There Goes Connie – A Christian Travel Blog: Trip info on Monday and devotionals on Friday.

ToyBox Bistro: A Quirky Huntsville Eatery Worth Finding

09/17/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Actually, it was my granddaughter Maggie who first told me about this place. She went to work with her daddy in Huntsville several weeks ago, and he took her to lunch. At her next piano lesson, she said,”Grandmomma, daddy and I found a place to eat that you would LOVE! It’s very different and fun, and the food is great.” Recently, a friend and I had an opportunity to check it out, and I have to say that she was exactly right.

You’ll find ToyBox Bistro at 511 Jordan Lane NW. When you take the Jordan Lane exit off of I-565, head toward University Drive. ToyBox Bistro is at the end of a strip of shops on the lefthand side, right at the Holmes Avenue intersection. Don’t look for sleek and modern. Think eclectic, homey, and unexpected.

The ToyBox slogan is “Eat, Drink and Be Nerdy,” certainly a reference to the hundreds of engineers and engineer types who live in Huntsville. As a matter of fact, the present owner’s husband was a Boeing Engineer, who died 8 years ago. While he was living, he had a toy-collecting obsession that resulted in the accumulation of 10,000 little people/toys/figurines, many of which have a Star Wars connection. His wife Michelle, who is now the owner, sold off half of the collection to fund the restaurant, 500 pieces are on display around the walls and suspended from the ceiling, and the rest are still in storage. I can see why engineering brains are drawn in, but go ahead and take your kids. Where else can you see a Monopoly game on the ceiling or be handed a bucket of Legos for your table while you wait??

ToyBox Bistro opened in March of 2016 and actually has no specific demographic. Frequent diners include nerds to be sure, but also families with kids, visitors from all over the country who have come into the Rocket City for work, ATF and FBI folks, whose offices are nearby, and random grandmothers like me.

ToyBox is closed on Sundays, but is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. the other 6 days of the week. Saturday nights are said to be the busiest, and, according to our server, Saturday brunch (10:30-2:00) is “off the chain” both in its popularity and in the delectable items that can be ordered. Make a note, too, that Taco Tuesdays also bring out the creative juices of the kitchen crew.

In addition to the menu choices, 2 different daily specials are offered that depend almost entirely on the whims of the cooks. All the meat is said to be fresh-never-frozen, and the roast beef is roasted for 12 hours.

My friend and I chose to share a Roast Beef Panini and a side of Grilled Potato Salad. Both were extremely delicious! Comfort food at its best. The potato salad consists of potatoes, sour cream, chives, and bacon baked in a cast iron skillet, resulting in a few crunchy edges.

Roast Beef Panini with a side of Grilled Potato Salad

I NEED to go back to sample their Chicken and Waffle Sliders, PB & Yay Burger, Roast Beef Sundae, C3PO and Mish’s Pot Pie, to name a few.

The whole staff is friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu and the history of the restaurant. Give it a try. It’s fun!

A Few Thoughts about Pastors

09/14/2018 By: CCPearson3 Comments

I still remember the time vividly.

Steve and I had recently moved from Cuenca, Ecuador to Quito where we were serving as Southern Baptist missionaries. The horrors of Katrina were splattered across the TV screen on the only U.S. news station we had available. Our son, who had finished his course work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, was being interviewed by a committee to be a pastor in Arkansas. He, his wife Katie and very young son Luke had spent the weekend at the church where he was questioned by a host of folks and preached to them that Sunday morning. The all-important vote was to take place at the conclusion of that service.

Matt’s jubilant voice came over the phone to say that the vote was 376 to 3 in favor of calling him. (No, I don’t remember that first number exactly, but I do remember that “3”). Matt and Katie were so excited about this new field of service, and I was, too. But, my first thought, if I’m being honest, was, “Give me the names of those 3. I want to set them straight about how great my son is!” All of you mommas out there can relate, I’m sure. How dare anyone doubt my son’s abilities or rightness for the task?! I finally concluded that those must have been just some children or teenagers who had been left unattended with ballots. 🙂

Matt, for the record, went on to have some very successful years leading that church. Their missions giving went through the roof, and they heard some mighty solid preaching — totally unbiased opinion, of course.

All of that to say that my thoughts/feelings/needs/wants when it comes to my own pastors have been derived from three contexts. 1) I’ve heard sermons every week for 68+ years. I’ve had at least a dozen or more pastors and other interim pastors along the way. Each had his own set of gifts — some for preaching, some for pastoring, some for administration. Very few had all three of those qualities in large amounts. Some became our close friends. A couple of them were much older than Steve and me. A few were about our age, and others were younger. 2) My dad, in his work with the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home, was in touch with practically every Baptist pastor in the state of Alabama. I heard daddy’s thoughts and did a lot of observation on my own. Frankly, some of those men were absolutely outstanding, while a few were, shall I say, less than stellar. 3) But, now, as “the preacher’s momma,” I tend to know more about what is really going on behind the scenes WHILE I hear my son preach messages with passion and intense preparation.

At my age and after being a Christian for almost 60 years, I don’t have to have a pastor who is my babysitter, the smoother of my ruffled feathers, or my hand-holder when I stub my toe. Surely I have matured beyond that point.

At this stage of my life, I’ve concluded that these things are what I need the most from a pastor:

When he stands in the pulpit to preach on Sunday, I want him to teach me something new. Or at least make a familiar passage or concept fresh. I may be a Senior Adult from an age perspective, but my desire to keep learning hasn’t dried up. I need to know that he has spent a lot of time in God’s Word during the week and in communication with the Father asking Him what he should say to His people. I need to know that he has given top priority to this important hour in the life of my church. Dig it out. Find what God wants us to know, and put it in a context that we can apply and take out the back door with us when we leave.
I need to know that he, or at least one of his “people,” cares when I am going through a serious crisis and that he will genuinely pray for me. If I am a part of a large congregation, I completely get it that there aren’t enough hours in the day to be a close shepherd to 1000 sheep, but I’m counting on him to organize his staff and/or the deacons so that everyone can be touched by someone in a pastoral position when those critical times happen. At this point, let me stop and mention two former pastors who will always be deeply loved because of their demonstration of care and concern for me and my family. My mother died suddenly in January of 1986. Her death put my dad, my siblings and me in utter shock. When I looked up at her funeral and saw Bro. Brooks Barkley there, it meant the absolute world to me. He had driven from Hartselle, AL to Troy, AL because he cared. Then, when Steve’s dad drowned in a boating accident on the Tennessee River in 1997, I can still see Dr. Mark Tolbert and his wife Joy standing behind us for HOURS at the funeral home visitation, whispering encouragement, bringing us water, handing us Kleenex, just loving us and ministering in any way they could. As I’ve already said, I’m a “big girl.” I really don’t even WANT anyone except Steve there when I have an outpatient surgery, for example. I have friends and family for times like that. But, I would greatly appreciate a touch of some kind from my pastor, or his representative, when I’m shaken to my core.
I need to be confident that he has a clear vision from God about the direction of the church and that he is earnestly asking for His wisdom and guidance in how to implement it.

If I need a family counselor, I’ll seek out a trained one.

If I spot a maintenance issue in the church building, I’ll let a member of the maintenance staff know.

If I have questions about a committee decision, I can ask a committee member to clarify it for me.

From watching my son pastor a church WHILE also being a husband and father, I know that bothering him with a hundred petty things only depletes his energy and discourages him. What I do see that he needs from his church members and what I need to give my pastor are these things:

My loyalty.

My support.

My willingness to assume the best and walk in the door each week looking for good things and expecting to find them.

Above all, my prayers. I have the ability and the desire to intercede on behalf of my pastor and his family, asking that God will provide their needs spiritually, emotionally and physically and that God will keep my pastor focused on his task.

Is your church searching for a new pastor?

Have you gotten caught up in putting expectations on a pastor that are unrealistic, maybe even impossible?

Perhaps some of the words I’ve typed will help. And let these verses encourage you.

Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Edgefield, South Carolina: Pottery, Great Food and TURKEYS!

09/10/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Allow me to steer you off of Interstates 20, 26 or 85 the next time you cross from Georgia or North Carolina into South Carolina. Edgefield is a jewel of a town with plenty to occupy you for several hours or a couple of days.

The National Wild Turkey Federation has its headquarters in Edgefield, and you will definitely want to designate an hour or two to visit their beautiful facility at 770 Augusta Road. The displays and exhibits are first-class. Even for those of us who have never been turkey hunters, it is fascinating to learn the habits and facts surrounding these interesting, albeit funny-looking, birds.

On display at the National Wild Turkey Federation

When you make the connection to the Turkey Federation, it is easy to understand and enjoy the painted turkeys scattered around the downtown area.

Standing around town.

Make a point of visiting downtown, specifically to see the studio and workshop of Old Edgefield Pottery at 230 Simpkins Street. There are actually three art forms that originated in South Carolina — Sweetgrass Baskets (popular in Charleston), Catawba Indian Pottery (which is on prominent display at the Catawba Cultural Center in Rock Hill, SC) and Edgefield Pottery which dates back to the 1800’s. At the studio, you can see examples of the original clay works and watch potter Justin Guy continue the process to make pieces today. You will be very tempted to purchase one of his beautiful pots for your own home.

Mural depicting Potter Dave from 200 years ago.

Justin Guy talking about Old Edgefield Pottery and its characteristics

Old Edgefield Grill is a restaurant I am happy to recommend right off of the main square at 202 Penn Street. Housed in a vintage Victorian home with a wide wraparound veranda and a yard full of magnolia trees, it exudes an air of Southern hospitality with the menu to back it up. They say that Shrimp and Grits is their signature item, but I’d put their Fried Green Tomatoes at the top of their offerings, as well. Two of the main dining rooms have important local connections. One has turkeys everywhere — in photos and decor, of course, not in live, gobbling form — and the other is a tribute to Senator Strom Thurmond, a highly-recognized and beloved U.S. Senator who was born in Edgefield in 1902, and died there a little over a hundred years later. Delicious upscale comfort food, elegant surroundings and significant art and decor items — what could be better?

Interior of Old Edgefield Grill in the turkey-themed room.

Statue of Senator Strom Thurmond

Edgefield is just one of the towns in the 5 counties which make up South Carolina’s Old 96 District. Check out the website. I’m positive you will find something that everyone in your family can see, experience and enjoy.

5 People Who Went Above and Beyond

09/07/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

One of my favorite aspects of being a travel writer is getting to meet new, fascinating and passionate people. Typically, they are the owners of restaurants, B & Bs or historians and tour guides at attractions of all kinds. On my most recent trip to Canton and Cleveland, Ohio, however, the travel/tourism staff members themselves were the ones who impressed me with their professionalism, their work ethic, their knowledge and their courtesy. You might think, “Well, that’s just part of their job.” And, in some ways, you’d be right. But, five people I met in Ohio definitely went “above and beyond” their formal job description. In my opinion, they “went the second mile,” and I was the grateful beneficiary.

In Canton, I encountered Tonja Marshall, the Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Visit Canton. She supervised the necessary details of my trip and devised an itinerary that made sure I saw as much as possible in the time I was in her city. But, here is where she “went beyond.” One attraction on the itinerary was a visit to the Gervasi Vineyard. I wrote about it here on Monday’s blog. It turned out to be a wonderful few hours, and I’m very glad I went. But, I was nervous about it. I don’t apologize or regret my decision to abstain from drinking alcohol, but I didn’t want to cause embarrassment or awkwardness for Visit Canton, for Gervasi Vineyard or for my fellow travel writers in the process. I had communicated with Tonja before I arrived that I was looking forward to seeing the vineyard but that I didn’t drink alcohol, but I had no idea how that scenario would play out. When we got to the wine-tasting event, we were seated in an amazing room with a stunning chandelier made out of wine bottles. Understandably, this place was ALL IN in terms of wine. Imagine me fidgeting and perspiring a bit by now. But, no, as the various wines were served to my fellow travel writers, I was never even offered a glass. My water glass was kept full, but no wine appeared at my place setting. What a huge relief! Tonja had discreetly and carefully handled the situation for me. I didn’t have to say or do anything. She made the experience easy, relaxing and extremely enjoyable. Thank you, Tonja.

Later that same afternoon, our group traveled to Cleveland where we were joined by four more travel writers. That is where I met the staff of Destination Cleveland/TheCLE/ThisisCLE/ThisisCleveland or whatever name you want to give them. 🙂

Kristen Jantonio, Communications Specialist, was indeed a “special communicator” before I set foot in her town. My emails received her prompt attention, and she patiently answered all my questions. (That’s saying a lot when your nickname is “The Queen of Questions.”) I mostly think of Kristen as the person responsible for an exquisite night of dinner at LockKeepers and a concert by the Cleveland Symphony at Blossom Music Center. She saw my elation at having such a wonderful experience. She joined us on other tours and helped me set up my very first Uber appointment, too, but I see her face when I think of that music. Thank you, Kristen.

Nick Urig, Communications Manager, led an informative walking tour of downtown Cleveland, showed us the ropes for ordering dinner at The Greenhouse Tavern and took us to breakfast at the West Side Market Cafe. That is where Nick REALLY came through for me personally. I saw pierogis on the menu (not for breakfast, of course, but yet it was on the menu). And I had never tried a pierogi. Not only did Nick goodnaturedly explain the making of and various types of pierogis, he ordered some for our table, and I got to taste my very first one. It was great! I’m ready for another one! And, as a side note, Nick is tall, attractive and exceedingly polite. I felt safe in that big city when he was with us. That’s huge when you’re a prissy Baby Boomer from Alabama traveling without your husband. Know what I mean? Thank you, Nick.

Stephanie Sheeley, Communications Coordinator, is a fun-loving young woman with a mass of shiny black curls and what I would call “statement fingernails.” Last week they were long and yellow. I found her to be very self-confident. That trait came through one morning when she walked out the door of her house, only later to discover that the zipper on her dress was broken. Her exposed skin in the back didn’t slow her down one bit. She carried on as if nothing was wrong. She also gave me some helpful hints about the hair of my own Ethiopian granddaughter. In other words, she related to me as a person, not just as part of her job, and I liked that a lot. Thank you, Stephanie.

Emily Lauer, Senior Director of PR/Communications, was the one I got to spend the most one-on-one time with. The two of us attended the Indians/Orioles baseball game on a warm Friday night at Progressive Field. That girl knows her Indians!!! She taught me about the HotDog Relay — when the mustard, ketchup and onions race from 3rd base to 1st base. She knew the names and a good bit of the history of each player. She pointed out the guy way up in the stands behind the outfield who played the drum to encourage every Indian batter — and has been doing that same thing for FORTY YEARS!!! She sang along with me to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Hang on, Sloopy.” She let me talk about my family and show her pictures of my new house, and I heard some about her life and career path. She walked for blocks and blocks with a cast shoring up her sprained ankle and then chauffeured me back safely to my hotel after the Indians pulled out the win. I hope I wasn’t too boring of a companion, but mostly I know Emily went out of her way to be nice and to be sure I had a great time — which I truly did. Thank you, Emily.

I wish I had gotten pictures of all these special people. I do have pictures of them in my mental images of Canton and Cleveland.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked a lot about doing the unexpected things, about going beyond what is required, about being exceptionally generous and kind. “Love your enemies.” “Pray for those who persecute you.” “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.” And the admonition that applies today: “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” (all verses found in Matthew 5)

I’m so glad I got to visit a part of the country I’d never seen before, but mostly I am glad I got to meet these people who made a deep impression and represented their organizations so very well.

VisitCanton

This is Cleveland

Gervasi Vineyard: 55 Stunning Acres in Canton, Ohio

09/03/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

I expected to enjoy the NFL Hall of Fame and the Canton Food Tour on a recent visit, but I was amazed and enchanted by the beauty and excellence I observed at the Gervasi Vineyard (1700 55th Street N.E. in Canton, Ohio). The work of a winery, especially one that offers exceptional food, luxury accommodations, much-sought-after event spaces and immaculate landscaping, is worth appreciating. When you are curious about pretty much EVERYTHING — as I tend to be — the process involved in turning grapes into wine is a fascinating one.

Driving through the archway entrance into Gervasi, you immediately sense that you are in for a special treat.

My fellow travel writers and I began our visit in the Tower Room of The Crush House, one of Gervasi’s fabulous restaurants. Andrew Codispoti, the Director of Winemaking, gave us an enlightening presentation about the various wines produced on the property as well as others that are brought in from around the world. I learned a lot about “the persona of wine” as Andrew explained that every wine has a longitude, a latitude, an altitude, and he smiled and added “an attitude.” A wine’s persona is the sum total of all the affecting factors: soil, slope, exposure, rain, fog, breeze, wind and, of course, temperature. Andrew also talked to us about “ice wine” (as opposed to “iceD wine”). In the case of ice wine, grapes must freeze on the vine when the temperatures have been in the teens for a number of days in a row. Then the grapes are pressed while they are still frozen, so the juice is highly concentrated. See? I told you it was fascinating.

Ted Swaldo is the owner of Gervasi, and the name of the vineyard was chosen because it is his mother’s maiden name. His son Scott is the General Manager. Scott is pictured here in the blue checked shirt beside Andrew.

Andrew Codispoti and Scott Swaldo

Lunch at The Crush House was fabulous. Here are some photos of appetizers, salads and main dishes. Oh my!

Crispy Fig Crostatas

Italian Loaded Potato Chips

Chickpea-crusted Chicken Breast

Greek Chicken Orzo

Rosemary Roasted Beef Sandwich with Crush House slaw

We walked the lush grounds and saw the variety of event spaces available for special occasions of all kinds — the Pavilion, the Villa Grande, the Gazebo, etc.

We toured a couple of the villas, which are Italian-inspired guest suites, each with a fireplace, heated tile floors and walk-in showers. Gorgeous! I MUST find an opportunity to return.

lLiving room in a villa.

Bedroom in a villa with a fireplace and heated floor.

Tile and marble bathroom with walk-in shower.

In The Bistro, Gervasi’s most upscale dining option, we met Jerry Risner, the Executive Chef, who is putting Gervasi on the map with his creativity and skill. He has a highly-trained staff, meeting the desires of all the guests who dine on the property.

One of the dining areas in The Bistro.

Jerry Risner, Executive Chef

Culinary classes are held on the grounds. The main instructor and the coordinator is Julianna Wilmoth. Her mantra is to use whole, fresh, local food when you’re cooking and to have fun doing it. Check out the schedule of classes here. Who wants to go with me?

Julianna Wilmoth, director of Culinary Classes

Of course, you wouldn’t want to leave Gervasi without a stop at the Marketplace to have a look at the vineyard-themed merchandise available for purchase.

Marketplace — gift shop on the grounds.

Some of the merchandise for sale in the Marketplace.

I understand there is even an event during harvest time every year where visitors can actually “stomp the grapes,” Lucy Ricardo-style. Wouldn’t that be a blast?

Have I sparked your interest in visiting Canton and Gervasi Vineyard? I believe you’ll love it.

Rust Belt or Bible Belt: People Are Passionate

08/31/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

The Rust Belt refers to a northern section of the US comprised of states formerly associated with the steel industry and heavy production hovering on or near the Great Lakes — Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Rust Belt was also known as the Factory Belt.

The Bible Belt runs through the southeastern portion of the U.S. with the “Buckle” of the Bible Belt settling in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama — four states considered to be the most conservative or fundamentally Christian in the country.

Last week this prissy Southern Bible Belt girl found herself in Cleveland, Ohio, which, if you don’t count Pittsburgh, might be the “rustiest’ city in the Rust Belt. It was my first visit to this metropolis touching Lake Erie, and I was thoroughly entertained by all I discovered about the city and the Clevelanders themselves. They are a passionate bunch.

I was surprised to learn that they still love Lebron James, even though he left the Cavaliers to go to the Los Angeles Lakers after winning the Cavaliers their first NBA title in 2016. After all, he’s a local boy — one of their own. In addition to the Cavs, they are also avid fans of the Cleveland Browns (in spite of a lackluster record) and the Cleveland Indians (who are currently at the top in the American League standings, central division). Go, Tribe!! I got to see the Indians in action against the Baltimore Orioles, along with a packed house of enthusiastic, hot dog-eating fans. Friday nights are $1 dog nights at Progressive Field. You might want to make a note of that information tidbit.

Watching the Cleveland Indians game.

Dressed up hot dog. Actually this one was served at Happy Dog Euclid Tavern, but you get the idea.

Clevelanders are proud of the famous people who were born in their town — Halle Berry, Paul Newman, Bob Hope, Cy Young, Tim Conway, to name a few, and, of course, James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. The Garfield Monument at Lake View Cemetery is stunningly beautiful.

Garfield Memorial

Cleveland’s Museum of Art houses more than 45,000 pieces in its collection, and they represent some of the most famous artists ever known. You can spend several spellbound hours gazing at the unbelievable displays, and it’s absolutely FREE to the public!! There is passionate support in Cleveland in order to provide residents and visitors with such a privilege.

One of 45,000 works of art at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Perhaps my favorite of Cleveland’s treasures is its outstanding symphony. The Cleveland Symphony, always ranked among the Top 5 in the country and recently mentioned as #1, just celebrated its 100th anniversary as an organization. I had the chance to hear them at their Blossom Music Center, the orchestra’s summer home. The orchestra has a passionate following, as evidenced by the fact that I listened completely enthralled along with approximately 10,000 others — many of whom were sitting in lawn chairs on the grassy knoll outside of the large amphitheater and pavilion area. The precision, the skill, but mostly the sound captured and mesmerized me. If I lived in Cleveland, I’d do whatever I could to attend every concert. The passion was completely understandable.

Cleveland Symphony at Blossom Music Center.

I was in Cleveland with 7 other travel writers from around the country, but I was the only one from Alabama. They laughed as I tried to turn them into Auburn fans, explaining that in the State of Alabama allegiance to either Auburn or Alabama is practically required at birth. After all, isn’t that what many of US are passionate about?

The whole trip led me to think a lot about passion and what my passions are. Isn’t it a good thing to be a passionate person? But, am I passionate ENOUGH about the things that truly matter.

I found this thought in JollyNotes.com – “Daily Inspiration for Joyful Living.”

Dear Friends, We need passion to survive. We need passion to thrive! Passion is a wonderful motivator to live life abundantly and to the fullest. On the other hand, the passion for the wrong things can destroy us (God forbid!). I am praying that God will ignite and develop a passion in us for everything in line with His ultimate purpose for our lives, and remove the passion for anything and everything that is not in His purpose for us. May we live passionate, joyful, and fulfilling lives – to the glory of God.

I like that, don’t you? Lives without passion are colorless. Having passion for the things of God, though, will bring us to life — deep, satisfying life.

Here are some Bible verses that point me toward more passion:

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Romans 12:10-11 – “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Psalm 84:2 – “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

A Canton Food Tour for an Alabama Food Lover

08/27/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Last week I was in Cleveland, Ohio with a group of fellow travel writers, all members of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers), and decided to go up a day early to take in some of the attractions and restaurants in nearby Canton. The first thing that likely comes to mind when you say “Canton, Ohio,” at least to the male members of the human race, would be the NFL Hall of Fame, and admittedly, that is a HUGE deal in Canton. Who knew, then, that there was such a great foodie culture in this town of 71,000, give or take a few hundred or so?

The Evening Hall of Fame City Food Tour costs $63 per person and includes a walking tour of downtown blocks showcasing important buildings, lively public art, lots of Canton fun facts and trivia and the culinary offerings of at least 4 participating restaurants. With a minimum of two courses at each eatery, the amount adds up to an abundance of food. For that reason, the walking involved is actually a very good thing. Plus, it’s the best way to get the vibe of the neighborhood. And, don’t worry if you’re not in top physical condition. The area is only about 4 blocks running north and south and 2 blocks running east and west. Very doable. I promise.

Cathy Wyatt was our tour guide. I found her to be extremely knowledgeable, attractive and enthusiastic. She also generously allowed us to visit her apartment at Onesto Lofts for a birds’eye view of downtown. Cathy is heavily involved in the civic happenings of Canton and owns Carpe Diem Coffee Shop right in the heart of the action.

Cathy Wyatt, Canton Food Tour guide and owner of Carpe Diem Coffee Shop.

Cathy Wyatt and her coffee shop.

Entrance to Onesto Lofts, repurposed downtown building.

Ornate lobby of Onesto Lofts.

View of the angels atop the Stark County Courthouse from near the top of Onesto Lofts.

Cathy educated us about the connections between President William McKinley and Canton, primarily through his wife Ida Saxton McKinley who was born and died in Canton. She pointed out the murals in progress depicting the 11 most important events in the history of the National Football League. We saw the Stark County Courthouse with its 11-foot high angels adorning the top and several examples of sculptures. Even the trash receptacles are painted with an array of themes.

NFL Monday Night Football mural

But, most of the time, we ate . . . and ate . . . and ate.

Our first stop was to Benders Tavern (circa 1902). There we had a sampling of Turtle Soup, which was a flavorful mix of snapping turtle morsels, celery, carrots, red pepper, sherry and herbs in a tomato base. Great start! That was followed by Sauteed Perch, straight from nearby Lake Erie, with homemade hummus and green beans with charmoula sauce.

Bender’s Tavern

Lake Erie perch at Bender’s.

Street Side Mexican Cantina is a new place which just opened in January of 2018. In addition to a collection of vintage signs on the walls, there was a deer head over the bar decorated for football. Street Side features fresh Mexican cuisine. We were served homemade tortilla chips with four sauces: queso, guacamole, salsa and fresco. All were good, but the queso was the crowd favorite. Next came small servings of BBQ beef tacos and Pork Belly Tacos with housemade quick pickles. New twists on old favorites.

Wall in Street Side Mexican Cantina.

Pork Belly Taco and BBQ Beef Taco.

George’s Lounge (1959) came next. Very much sporting the atmosphere of the iconic Cheers television show, George’s is known for its crazy-good burgers and live music. They feature a Burger of the Month and a Shake of the Month. We had samples of each. First, the burger topped with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese and jalapeno/pear jam, then a small portion of a brown butter peach cobbler shake. It’s a good thing the portions were small. Wow. Yummy!

George’s Lounge in the Music Block of downtown Canton.

Burger of the Month at George’s.

Our last stop was at Basil Asian Bistro. We were served a Sushi Platter and a cooked sushi creation designed to look like its name “Shaggy Dog.” Fun AND delicious. The two entrees were served family style, so we all got to taste Pad Thai and Green Mango Grouper. Basil is a family business. The parents are Chinese who grew up in Vietnam. The present owner is a first generation American. The menu is a mix of Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Burmese. Very interesting.

Basil Asian Bistro.

Beautifully-presented sushi platter at Basil.

Sushi aptly called “Shaggy Dog” at Basil.

All four restaurants are popular, and our service was outstanding. I’m glad Food Tours are popping up in more cities. They are great ways to sample regional specialties while learning fun facts about the area. The Canton Food Tour is very well-done, and I highly recommend it. If you’re lucky enough to have Cathy for your guide, you’ll be in for an extra-special treat.

A Legacy of Love

08/24/2018 By: CCPearson10 Comments

The dictionary defines legacy as “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.” Synonyms for the word include: inheritance, heritage, gift, birthright.

A cousin was going through old family photos a few months ago and uncovered this one. I never knew it existed, but it has become one of my special treasures. It represents to me the most important legacy my parents left for me.

Tom and Mildred Collier, June 1949.

These are my parents on their honeymoon. Look how young and happy they were. They were married very early on a Sunday morning in the doorway of the new sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Athens, AL on June 19, 1949. The sanctuary wasn’t quite finished yet, but they wanted to have the distinction of being the first couple married there. And that’s how they came to get their names in the cornerstone. 🙂

After the very short, simple ceremony in front of a few family members and friends, they started driving to the Gulf of Mexico, no doubt to see those waves and that sand for the very first time. They stopped in Mobile to see my dad’s brother Joe and his wife Sarah (who no doubt were the ones who took the photo). Obviously, they were eager to put their toes in the water. Notice the rolled up pants legs and the hiked up skirt.

They both came from very poor backgrounds. My dad’s parents were sharecroppers in Limestone County. He told stories of selling watermelons on the square in Athens on Saturdays. My mother’s father was a barber in the town who made $9 a week and never owned a car. “Mr. Clarence,” as everyone called him, walked to work, to church, to the grocery store, etc. and was a familiar sight in town — so much so, that often people pulled over to offer him a ride. He sang tenor in the church choir and famously slept through many sermons.

They had very little in terms of material possessions, but this photo reminds me of their love for each other. I was born almost exactly 11 months later. Here, 69+ years after the photo, it still gives me validation, assurance and a peaceful settled feeling to know that my parents adored each other.

In a blog post from 2015, Joe Sturniolo wrote:

Chuck Swindoll on his Insight for Living radio show talked about a survey of eighty-five-year-old people as they entered the twilight of life.

They were asked what they regretted most about the way they had lived.

The seniors said:

I would have spent more time reflecting in meditation and contemplation.
I would have risked more.
I would have done more things that would live on after I die.

The third response captured my attention because I think a lot about my family legacy. I don’t want to leave behind just my regrets. I want to leave a meaningful legacy that matters.

The third response resonates with me, too. I would have done more things that would live on after I die. How grateful I am that so many evidences of my parents’ love for each other continue to live on, even now that they are both in heaven.

How does that motivate me? Three actions I want to carry out — 1) Demonstrating my love for Steve in front of the kids and grandkids. 2) Hugging, affirming and giving unconditional love to all of them. 3) Modeling a consistent Christian life.

Proverbs 13:22 — “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children . . .”

Psalm 37:18 — “The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.”

1 John 4:7 — “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

2 Huntsville Restaurants for Your Consideration

08/20/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

During Huntsville’s recent Restaurant Week, I wanted to check out at least two eateries that were new to Steve and me. Different parts of the city, different cuisines, and different atmospheres. Both had good food and are worth a visit.

LUCIANO

At 964 Airport Road, Suite 4, Luciano is NOT what you’d expect from a restaurant in a strip mall — far from it. When you turn off of Memorial Parkway onto Airport Road, you’ll find it on the left before you reach Crestwood Hospital and pretty much across the street from Steinmart, Rolo’s, Chicken Salad Chick, etc. When I called to reserve a table, I was given a choice of patio seating, the garden room, the bar or the terrace room. We wanted to enjoy both the live jazz music AND conversation with friends, so we chose the terrace room and were able to do both.

As expected, Luciano calls itself “a fine Italian restaurant,” and I found that to be accurate. Both the menu and the decor back up that description. It’s very pretty. Cozy. I’d even call it romantic — especially with the smooth music of the piano and singer.

Both of the men in our foursome ordered the Restaurant Week Special — Shrimp Juno Appetizer (probably their most popular one), Soup or Salad (they chose Greek salads), Chicken Piccata and Tiramisu for dessert. My friend chose a lasagna entree, and I got the Eggplant Parmesan. Our entrees came with a salad, and we enjoyed sweet bites from our husbands’ desserts.

Juno Shrimp Appetizer at Luciano.

Greek salad at Luciano.

Chicken Piccata.

Eggplant parmesan.

Tiramisu — sweet treat at Luciano.

We had a great time, talking, eating and listening to music for a couple of hours. Yes, I would recommend it.

PHUKET, THAI RESTAURANT AND SUSHI

(Pronounced “Pooh-get”)

Phuket is at 425 Providence Main Street, Suite 102. It is directly across the street from Edgar’s Bakery. Just park in the large lot across from Grille 29 and walk. It’s only a short block away.

Phuket in Providence – exterior.

For this dinner, we chose to dine alfresco since the temperature was mild, and the early evening setting was relaxed and pleasant. (The only thing that marred the vibe was the presence of 2 maintenance workers at Edgar’s who chose that time to pressure-wash the outside sidewalk. Bummer. It certainly wasn’t the fault of Phuket, and we could have gone back inside. Just thought I’d mention it. You might want to check those things out before you choose outside seating).

Dining alfresco at Phuket.

This time we both chose the Restaurant Week Menu being offered. For only $20 per person, we each enjoyed an appetizer of Fried Green Beans. Steve chose Phuket Pad Thai for his entree, and I had the Cashew-Almond Chicken. For dessert, he had the key lime tart, and I had the chocolate peanut butter tart. Quite a lot of food for $20, wouldn’t you say?? I even brought my leftovers home and had them for lunch the next day. Win-win!

Fried green beans.

Phuket Pad Thai.

Cashew-almond chicken at Phuket.

Key Lime Tart.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart.

The $30 option had several choices that were more distinctly “Thai,” but we had a nice dinner and great service without spending a bundle. Yes, if you enjoy Asian cuisine, Phuket is another place that I would recommend.

A Wise Woman Saves the Day!

08/17/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

She’s almost invisible, tucked away in the pages of 2 Samuel. (2 Samuel 20:15-22, to be exact). I confessed to a recent Sunday School class I taught that I had read through the Bible on numerous occasions and had 68 years worth of sermons under my belt, but somehow this woman’s contribution seemed new to me. Yet, there it was. I love it when a woman is the heroine of a story in the Bible.

The setting was this: Joab and his army were besieging the city of Abel, trying to scale and dismantle the protective wall, in order to reach Sheba who was stirring up traitorous intentions toward King David. Sheba had declared that the people of Israel (meaning the 10 tribes in the northern part of the land) had no reason to follow and support David. He was mad at the people of Judah (representing the 2 southern tribes), and he wanted to cause their demise.

The residents of Abel were innocent. Their city had a solid reputation for doing good. Yet, they were going to suffer huge losses if something didn’t happen. Enter The Wise Woman.

¹⁵When Joab and his men came to Abel Beth Maacah, they surrounded the town. They piled dirt up against the city wall and began breaking stones out of the wall to make it fall down.

¹⁶But there was a very wise woman in that city who shouted out to them and said, “Listen to me! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk with him.”

¹⁷Joab went to talk with the woman. She asked him, “Are you Joab?”

Joab answered, “Yes, I am.”

Then the woman said, “Listen to me.”

Joab said, “I am listening.”

¹⁸Then the woman said, “In the past people would say, ‘Ask for help in Abel and you will get what you need.’ ¹⁹I am one of many peaceful, loyal people in this town. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why do you want to destroy something that belongs to the Lord?”

²⁰Joab answered, “I don’t want to destroy anything. I don’t want to ruin your city. ²¹But there is a man in your city from the hill country of Ephraim. He is named Sheba son of Bicri. He rebelled against King David. Bring him to me, and I will leave the city alone.”

The woman said to Joab, “All right. His head will be thrown over the wall to you.”

²²Then the woman spoke very wisely to all the people of the city. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it over the city wall to Joab.

So Joab blew the trumpet and the army left the city. The soldiers went home, and Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

Nowhere in the passage do we learn her name . . . or age . . . or economic status . . . or level of education.

We can deduce that she had earned a reputation for saying and doing wise things in the past.

She realized that her own life was about to be threatened along with all those she loved and cared about.

She got in a position to be heard.

She identified the person who could make a difference – Joab.

She asked him to listen to her. (How many times have we said to our husbands or children, “Are you listening to me?”)

She got to the root of the problem while defending the reputation of her city and its citizens.

She understood what the solution had to be and convinced the townspeople to carry out the solution.

Yes, the “solution” was gruesome, but, without a doubt, that one act saved the lives of hundreds, maybe even thousands.

I want to be a wise woman, don’t you? I want to have a track record for making wise decisions and speaking words of wisdom. I want to have good communication skills. I want to defuse potentially explosive situations. I want those around me to live in peace.

I’m so glad I got a chance to encounter this woman while studying God’s Word. I believe I’ll remember her from now on.

Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

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