TheRoadScholar » Uncategorized

Cider Sipping in Southwest Michigan

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:38:13 +0000

Coloma, Michigan–Grandpa’s Cider Mill temps visitors with free samples, a window to the cider milling process, and tasty baked goods as well. Just off I-94, Grandpa’s Cider Mill sits at the edge of Friday Road surrounded by groves of apple trees. It’s open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Outside, check out the collection of [...]

Picking Out Porcelain in Dresden

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:28:21 +0000

Dresden, Germany–If you’re looking for fine porcelain on display and in public places, Dresden offers a wealth of opportunities. Though the city was bombed heavily in World War II, the famed procession of princes, a fabulous street-length mural of more than 24,000 Meissen porcelain tiles depicting Saxon princes, survived. It’s found between the Protestant Church of Our Lady and [...]

Maple Syrup Hike at Ryerson Woods

TheRoadScholar — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:58:41 +0000

Big Mama sugar maple holds two buckets of sap. Photo by Laurie Borman

Deerfield, IL– It’s a sure sign of spring when maple sugar hikes begin at Ryerson Woods. Jen Berlinghof, an environmental educator at the 552-acre conservation area owned by the Lake County Forest Preserve District, leads the hikes. She’s also the manpower behind tapping 35 trees [...]

Olympics Hockey: Did Canada really win the gold?

TheRoadScholar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:55:26 +0000

The hockey game was Olympian, with a late score by the U.S. team. And though Canada scored in overtime (3-2), when you realize that three Canadian players were Chicago Blackhawks and one Chicago Blackhawk was playing for the U.S., I say Chicago won the 2010 Olympics Hockey final. Look for some serious celebrations in Chicago this week, [...]

Vancouver Top Five Favorite Things

TheRoadScholar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:13:32 +0000

Aquabus will take you in and around Vancouver. Photo by Laurie Borman

Vancouver, British Columbia–Everybody’s watching Vancouver, with the Olympics in full swing. It’s cool, it’s sophisticated, it’s laid-back, and one of the best cities to visit. Here are my top five favorite things about Vancouver:

Artful Caffe Artigiano latte. Photo by Laurie Borman

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Heavy Snow Falling and I’m Driving AWD

TheRoadScholar — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:48:39 +0000

We may not have the Snowmaggedon of the East Coast today, but Chicago is hunkering down for a foot or more of snow today and tomorrow. No biggie–this city’s been prepared for heavy weather since the late 70s when a certain mayoral candidate lost the race because he couldn’t get the streets cleared. Chicagoland has [...]

Illinois Winter Wonderland: Ft. Sheridan Nature Preserve

TheRoadScholar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:37:28 +0000

Ft. Sheridan Forest Preserve path in winter. Photo by Laurie Borman

Trees raise their limbs to the sky. Photo by Laurie Borman

Highland Park/Highwood, IL–Fresh snow covers the paths of Ft. Sheridan Nature Preserve in Lake County. Only a few birds pierce the silence. This is the time to trod in snowshoes, down [...]

Chicago’s Spertus Institute Architecture Tour

TheRoadScholar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:42:23 +0000

Spertus Institute at 610 S. Michigan Ave., Photo by William Zbaren

Crown Great Hall. Photo by William Zbaren.

Chicago’s Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies built an amazing structure on historic Michigan Avenue in 2007, all angles of glass and ribs of steel. You might be thinking, ugh, I hate those cold all-glass buildings, [...]

Why Does A Six-Point Buck Cross The Road?

TheRoadScholar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:39:15 +0000

Highland Park, IL–Why does the buck cross the neighborhood street? I don’t know, I forgot to ask I was so stunned. He, on the other hand, wasn’t fazed.

The Apple of My Eye

theroadscholar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:27:23 +0000

Twin Lakes, WI–Golden delicious apples make for good eating and easy picking at Oriole Springs Orchard, a Wisconsin institution since 1919. An easy drive over the IL border from Antioch for north suburban Chicago residents, Oriole Springs has plenty of apples and now a pumpkin patch, too. Just down the road is Harvest Time Orchards, [...]