NEW (Bardstown Kentucky)

Hi, 

With a fat finger combined with a lapse in comprehension, I managed to publish the blog post planned for this date on the wrong calendar day and date.  It was published on November 1st...and therefore 2 posts went out on the same date.  My next post will not be published until Friday, November 8th.

Please take a look at 'both' blog posts that were published on November 1st...

Thanks and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

It's About Thyme - Fine Dining

With this post to my blog site, I am way out of sequence as regards our October road trip.  I last left you in western Kentucky, headed east.  From there it was onto southern Ohio, a taste of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, a museum in southern New York and finally, down into Virginia.

But, as the fall season comes to a close, I thought that it would be appropriate to write about this restaurant before the winter settles in and while road trippers are still out and about.  Destination, Culpeper Virginia!  

I'll start by stating that this was one of the best dining experiences that Laurie and I have had in recent years.

This is the entrance to It's About Thyme, a cafe/restaurant in the center of Culpeper Virginia.  I hadn't researched dining opportunities in Culpeper but we stopped here for lunch just on a whim... 

Of course, the fact that It's About Thyme was quite busy might have factored into our decision.  Sorry about my bald head in the second photo...but its the best shot of my naked noggin I've ever seen and it gives you a nice view of the restaurant's decor.

One more view of It's About Thyme's dining area.  It is a warm and welcoming environment.

I don't usually post photos of a restaurant's menu.  But a quick perusal of the menu and the offerings available to diners at It's About Thyme, bolsters my stance that the restaurant is not just average, nor a bit above the rest.  Fine dining indeed, and at reasonable prices too!  In addition to Lobster Salad and Wild Mushroom Ravioli on the Lunch Specials menu, items on the main menu such as the Pork Roast, the Palazzo Pot Roast and the Pepper Steak take the restaurant to a higher level.  

As someone who watches their expenses and tracks them, the fact that diners don't have to break the bank to experience the quality at It's About Thyme, is truly a positive factor.  Even better, note that 3 of the main course options allow for smaller portions...an excellent idea indeed!  

Our server started us out with this focaccia bread and it was beyond excellent.  Both the texture of the bread and its impact on our taste buds were over the top.  We finished it off in no time...and our server brought more too!  

It was explained to us that the locals initially complained that the focaccia bread that It's About Thyme was serving was 'stale'.  Actually, the original version had a normal crust and it was firmer as per the usual version of focaccia.  So more olive oil was added, the rising process was changed and this softer and flavorful focaccia was the result.  John, the owner, told us that he bakes 4 - 6 large pans of this bread every day.

Laurie has been eating healthier plus a lot less than she used to... Also she never gets to have mushrooms at home as yours truly won't eat them.  So, when she saw Portobello Mushrooms on the menu, her luncheon decision was instantaneous.  The mushrooms were sauteed with some amazing tomatoes, red wine and butter.  These warm ingredients were served over field greens...all stacked on top of more of that amazing focaccia bread. ($16.95) Laurie was in heaven!  Her lunch was 'only' excellent... I tried one of her tomatoes...amazingly tasty!

For my midday repast, I chose the Open Face Ham Sandwich. ($18.50) In this case the focaccia was topped with ham, Swiss cheese, tomato and bacon, then warmed in the oven and topped with bechamel sauce.  As you can see, it was served with a side house salad.

I was torn between the house salad and the open face ham sandwich as to which I liked best!  Both were excellent... I don't know what made the tomatoes so flavorful but they were over the top.  I think that both of our lunches are proof that excellent food doesn't have to be too fancy.  Quality ingredients combined creatively to maximize texture and taste, then presented in an appealing way...those are the keys to It's About Thyme's popularity.  

We passed on dessert after our wonderful luncheon and all of that focaccia bread.  However, like all of our food, the presentation of two of the available dessert options was very appealing.  Other options were available...as per that not on the tray.  Overall service was very professional.

This is John Yarnall.  He is the owner and founder of the restaurant.  In 1995 he moved his It's About Thyme French restaurant from Philadelphia to Culpeper.  At the same time, he broadened the menu to include a wider selection of European cuisine.  John chatted with us for a few moments between greeting customers and visiting other tables.  We learned that as much as possible he raises his own vegetables for the restaurant.  This includes a indoor hydroponic garden which gives him a head start on spring planting. 

The business has expanded significantly since it opened.  Two of John's daughters and a daughter-in-law are now part of the business.  The Thyme Market next door to the restaurant offers a European style take-out market.  Adjacent to the Thyme Market, The Copper Fish seafood market offers fresh seafood and it also  features a raw bar.  Beyond the food options, the Yarnall family also offers 7 guest suites for travelers above the markets.

It's About Thyme is located at 128 East Davis Street in Culpeper Virginia.  Phone: 540-825-4264.  Website: https://www.thymeinfo.com/home. 

My next post will get us back on track as we headed through Kentucky and the next stop on our October road trip.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Exploring Bardstown Kentucky (NEW)

After 'assuming' I knew what I was doing, I'd made a wrong turn and instead of heading toward Bardstown Kentucky, I'd turned southwest and was drifting back toward Tennessee.  By the time I figured out what I'd done, with prompting from Laurie, I finally got back on track.  The upshot was that I wasted an hour of potentially 'valuable' shopping time in Bardstown!  It had been many years since we last visited this historic small town...

This is a view of the center of Bardstown looking up 3rd Street.  There are plenty of shopping and dining opportunities for visitors... Most of downtown Bardstown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bardstown was first settled in 1780, making it one of the oldest towns in Kentucky.  A center of Bourbon production, Bardstown is growing and it's now home to roughly 13,800 residents. 

The building on the corner that sports all of the architectural embellishments was built in 1900 and it served as Peoples Bank.  In more recent times, it was home to JDI Grille and Tavern, then for a short time, it operated as Alexander Bullitt's Brewery and BBQ.  Currently the owners of the building have 3 different ventures underway here.  It is the Kaden Lake Curated Emporium featuring upscale women's clothing and it is also home to the Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium.  In addition, there is a luxury Airbnb on the second floor. 

The rather plain looking building at the right first served as Black's Store and Tavern ca. 1820.  By 1825, with the famous tour of Kentucky by the Marquis de Lafayette, it was renamed as the "Lafayette Hotel".  Today it serves as the offices of Federal Hill Capital Management.

"At Mary's" was one of several shops we visited in the downtown shopping and dining area in Bardstown.  This upscale quality merchant features home decor, art, glassware, art glass, candles, local interest items (aka souvenirs), plus a kid's corner with lots of books.  I love the impact of the display at the front of the store.  This retail operation resides at 116 North 3rd Street.  The structure was built in 1900.  

Bardstown is the county seat for Nelson County Kentucky.  The county was named after Thomas Nelson Jr., a Virginia Governor who was one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence.  This is the old Nelson County Courthouse.  This over-the-top mix of Victorian Gothic and Romanesque styles was completed in 1892 and it served as the county courthouse until 2003 when a new facility was completed.  Located at one end of the primary commercial strip in Bardstown, this large structure now serves as the Bardstown/Nelson County Welcome Center.  

In turn this building replaced an earlier courthouse that apparently burned down.  Some of the stones from that 1790 structure were used in the foundation for this building.  I can't imagine that a welcome center would need all of this space but the good news is that the building is being reused...

This very old structure has been known by many different names over the centuries.  The Old Talbott Tavern, aka the Old Stone Tavern was built in 1779.  It is claimed that the tavern has never closed since it opened.  A rumor has it that many of its guests have 'never checked out'.  Every room in the Tavern is named for a historical person who is reputed to haunt that room.

The Old Talbott Tavern is likely the oldest surviving building in the state of Kentucky.  It was located near the end of the stagecoach road that once led east toward Philadelphia and Virginia.  Famous people who stayed here over the years include George Rogers Clark around the end of the American Revolutionary War, Daniel Boone and the exiled King of France, Louis-Philippe.  Others who have stayed at the Tavern/hotel include Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, John Audubon, Stephen Foster, Jesse James and General George Patton.

The Talbott Inn is located adjacent to the Old Talbott Tavern.  It was built in 1913.  At one point it was home for the H and K Real Estate and Auction Company...they also were insurance brokers.  Today, it serves as a sister property to the Tavern...providing additional rooms for visitors.  

I do believe that this building was Laurie's favorite 'stop' on our trail of exploration.  The Fine Arts Bardstown Society (FABS) is located in the old courthouse square.  Originally the building was the Bardstown U.S. Post Office.  In 1970, it was converted into the Bardstown Library and it served in that capacity until 2007 when a new library building was completed.  

The Fine Arts Bardstown Society fosters creativity and provides encouragement for local artists.  The artists display their creativity here and of course, they hope to sell some of their creations to the public.  In the two interior photos shown above you can see paintings, ceramics, jewelry and basketry.  That is just a small sample of the variety available in this large community operated venue.  Others items include drawings, photography, fiber arts, wearable art, woodworking creations, stained glass and sculpture.  

Laurie has so many baskets that I was able to steer her away from the attractive display in the last photo above.  However she did purchase a nice ceramic snack bowl.  The artist was on site and he was so appreciative, he gave her a nice handmade greeting card too.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BardstownForTheArtsTheGallery/videos/welcome-inside/928997230544114/.   

Farmer's Bank and Trust at 101 North 3rd Street in Bardstown was built in 1900.  It appears that for many years after the bank closed, the property was owned by the Luckett family as that plaque above the mail box refers to the building as the Luckett Real Estate and Insurance Building.  The Luckett business has moved to a new location in town and the building appeared unused when we visited.  At one point a company named Four Seasons Apartments apparently was leasing out an apartment in the old bank.

This old home is located at 110 West Flaget Avenue.  It was built in 1900.  Currently a sign for Kentucky Owl Bourbon is posted next to the entrance.  As recently as 2017 this building was home for The Kentucky Bourbon Marketplace.  Folks could buy souvenirs and liquor plus there was a small bar in the back of the building.  

A great-great grandson of the founder revived the family business after nearly 100 years.  The first series of Kentucky Owl Bourbon was released in 2017.  The brand is now owned by the Stoli Group and they are building the Kentucky Owl Park, a new distillery, at Bardstown.  FYI, Total Wine and More offers a variety of Kentucky Owl rye, whiskey and bourbons, with at least one of them priced at $409.99!  I think that I'll just continue ordering water and lemon...with an occasional Miller Lite.

This is the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, which is located at 211 North 3rd Street in Bardstown.  I was able to learn that it was built in 1894 and that it originally served as the First Christian Church.  Further research efforts came up blank... 

Historic preservation has ruled Bardstown for many years.  When the Hampton Inn that we stayed in was built, a low 2-story structure was all that the city would approve.  We were on the second floor.  We've never seen such long hallways!  The elevator to the 2nd floor was adjacent to the door shown in the distance in the first photo.  The second photo is from the elevator bay back toward the front of the hotel.  Another long section of hallway was right behind us but I figured that I had enough hallway photos!  Dragging our luggage, we never thought we'd make it to our room... 

In my next post, it will be time for dinner in Bardstown plus just a few more photos of possible interest. 

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for following along on our latest road trip!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Family Tradition - and then Our Road Trip Continued...

Folks tend to talk about family traditions as those annual family activities that span generations.  However, some family traditions resonate with just a single generation and, if you think about it, all family traditions have to start somewhere.  Laurie and I are all about road trips along byways and single lane highways through the countryside, exploring villages, small towns and cities along the way... That is our personal 'tradition'.

Our son, David III and his wife Amy, have created their own family tradition.  It may start and end with them...but it is something different...and its an experience that they are committed to.

Amy and David II have now stayed at 3 tiny cabins, this most recent one being a bit southwest of Duluth Minnesota.  The others were in Illinois and Missouri.  It is their escape from the world's craziness and it provides time together with minimal distractions.  Each cabin is equipped with a small (tiny) bathroom as well as A/C and heat.  The company providing their tiny cabin opportunity was Postcard Cabins.  You can see the other amenities in the second photo... 

David and Amy get a lot of reading done during their down time at the cabin but backroad exploration is also a part of their experience.  The cabins are each set apart by a few hundred feet and generally they back up into the edge of the woods.  Nearby hiking trails are provided.  Postcard Cabins are always near state and national parks and a decent sized city is within an hour or two.  They dine in local restaurants and sometimes stop by small shops.  They already have booked their tiny cabin for next year.

A brief search on the Internet revealed a lot of 'tiny' cabins for rent.  Apparently it is big business.  Postcard Cabins and Airbnb are two major providers.  In East Tennessee, many 'tiny' cabins are available from different sources...although in many instances, the use of "tiny" is questionable.  Postcard Cabins' website is found at postcardcabins.com.  

As I mentioned above, when David II and Amy are experiencing one of their tiny cabin stays, they do drive into nearby towns to look around and to dine at local eateries.  Knowing my obsession with old railroad depots, David II took a photo of this old depot in Superior Wisconsin, which is now a brewery and restaurant.  They stopped in for one of their meals.    

The Thirsty Pagan Brewing and Restaurant is first of all a brewery.  But they also serve appetizers, salads, pizzas, calzones and desserts.  You can check out their website at https://www.thirstypaganbrewing.com/. 

This depot was built in 1908 by the original Wisconsin Central Railroad.  In 1909 it was leased by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, aka 'the Soo or Soo Line".  Three former Presidents stopped at this depot, including Presidents Coolidge, Hoover and Truman.  The last passenger train departed from the depot back in 1965.

...and now, back to our own road trip!

As we headed toward our next overnight stay in Bardstown Kentucky we drove through Murray Kentucky, the county seat for Calloway County.  The Calloway County Courthouse was built in 1913 in the Classical Revival style.  The previous courthouse had burned down but this replacement was finally funded through 'blatant election tampering'.  Votes authorizing the issuance of bonds for construction were falsified.  Voters had actually turned down the needed funding.  Those in favor of the new courthouse cheated to get what they wanted.

    

Since the George Floyd killing in Minnesota, public memorials or statues like this one are unusual, with many being destroyed or moved to private property or cemeteries.  This Confederate monument is located on the northeast corner of the Calloway County Courthouse property in Murray Kentucky.  Featuring Robert E. Lee, it commemorates the 800 residents of the county who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.  The monument was originally funded by a chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1917.  Despite repeated and vocal calls for its removal, including pressure from Kentucky's Governor, the Calloway County Fiscal Court has ruled that the statue will be kept in place.

In downtown Cadiz Kentucky we came across a plethora of painted pigs!  Over the years we've seen eye-catching painted cows, dogs, roosters, foals, cougars and more, but we'd never seen painted pigs.  A local artist painted the pigs...some with ads and many without.  We didn't come into town via the Interstate so we missed "Big Pig", a 10-foot sow that features painted images, stitched together like a quilt, showing scenes landmarks significant to Trigg County.  The whole pig statue project was completed to promote the County Ham Festival... The festival pulls in something between 30,000 and 50,000 visitors each year.

That purple pig at the end of the group of pig photos shown above just happened to be placed right in front of The Purple Pig Antiques and Artisans retail store.  Yes indeed, we did make a couple of small purchases... It was an interesting store with a lot of variety for those who enjoy browsing for 'treasures'.  To learn more about The Purple Pig retail establishment, you can just go to ThePurplePigAntiquesAndArtisans.com.

Our next stop was in Cadiz Kentucky.  This town's Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1988.  A total of 16 contributing buildings are included.  That includes the former commercial building at 63 Main Street as shown above.  A portion of the building now serves and the Cadiz City Hall.  Although I'm sure that this structure was built prior to 1920, I couldn't confirm a completion date.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

On Our Way and Exploring Paris...Tennessee That Is!

Of course, in order to experience a 'found family gathering' in Paris Tennessee as previously reported, we had a bit of a drive to get there.  The distance was about 290 miles...not a particularly long drive for us.

Note:  Tennessee is a long and narrow state.  If one was to drive from the northeastern most point in Tennessee to the southeastern most point, you would cover about 424 miles.

We had skipped breakfast at home before leaving, giving us a good excuse for a meal break and a chance to stretch our legs.  I can't remember where we found this Waffle House location, but I think that it was in Clarksville Tennessee.  There are 124 Waffle House restaurants in Tennessee. 

Waffle House has been our 'go to' road stop in the Southeast USA for many years but, right or wrong we both feel that the quality or consistency has slipped.  Other alternatives are in our future...

This isn't a bridge over the Seine River approaching Paris (France).  Rather it's a bridge over one part of Kentucky Lake approaching Paris Tennessee.  Kentucky Lake is a navigable reservoir created by Kentucky Dam along the Tennessee River.  It has 2,064 miles of shoreline and a surface area of 160,309 acres.  It is the largest reservoir in the USA east of the Mississippi River.  It is connected via a free-flowing channel to Lake Barkley, a reservoir that impounds the Cumberland River and adds another 58,000 acres to this huge dual lake complex.

A short time later, we entered the town of Paris Tennessee.  One of the first things we noticed was this welcome sign topped with a giant blue catfish.  The sign states that Paris is the home of the World's Biggest Fish Fry... To explain this claim, a giant fish fry is held at the Fairgrounds during the last full week of April every year.  Most recently, attendees at this festival consumed about 12,500 lbs. of catfish!  Other events included a carnival, parade, rodeo, a catfish race, arts and crafts offerings, a demolition derby and much more.  For more information, just go to https://www.worldsbiggestfishfry.org/.

Yes indeed, this is the Eiffel Tower!  Paris Tennessee has it's own version of Paris France's original... This iteration of the Eiffel Tower is 60 feet tall.  It is a 1:20 scale replica that was completed in 1993.  It can be found in Paris' Memorial Park.  FYI, there are at least 10 Eiffel Tower replicas in the USA with 32 other nations having replicas of their own. 

 

I 'borrowed' the first photo of the Henry County Courthouse from Wikipedia as it shows how the courthouse appeared before the current and ongoing efforts to refurbish and upgrade the structure.  It was originally completed in 1897.  The city of Paris Tennessee is the county seat.  While the city was named "Paris" in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of America's Revolutionary War, the county was named in honor of one of our country's founding fathers, Patrick Henry.

I just had to include a photo of this 40 inch catfish statue that I noted on Courthouse Square.  A total of 15 catfish statues with different colors and decor were placed around Paris in early 2019.  The idea was to add another promotional element to the city's annual fish fry festival.   

 

...and then Laurie found a shop open while I was exploring the town square!  American Honey Mercantile does indeed sell honey...plus quality costume jewelry, home decor, women's and kid's clothing, pantry items, kitchen cooking supplies, pet accessories and more.  This store is located in one of 4 sections of a large 4-bay mercantile structure that was built in 1899.  American Honey Mercantile is located at 108 North Market Street in Paris Tennessee...and Laurie did make a purchase. 

Looking around the Courthouse Square, I thought that this 3-story Italianate commercial building was worthy of a photo.  I like the different color schemes and I love those old windows.  The structure was built ca. 1880.

I was quite sure that I'd photographed these buildings on a previous road trip.  We did wander through Paris several years prior to Laurie learning that she had relatives in the area... (See link to previous blog post at the end of this one)

I may have even previously photographed the Post Office in Paris.  It was built in 1908.  This structure, as well as the previous three buildings as shown above, are all part of the Paris Commercial Historic District.  The District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  There are a total of 44 'contributing' structures in the Historic District.  To learn more, you can go to https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/88001424.  

This is the James Davis Porter house, which is located at 407 South Dunlap Street in Paris.  The Federal style home was built by Thomas Crawford, a wealthy merchant, ca. 1850.  Porter family in-laws purchased the home in 1859.  The home is most notable as being the residence of Tennessee Governor James Davis Porter between 1887 and his death in 1912.  The home stayed in the family until at least 1972.

In addition to being a 2-term Governor of Tennessee, James Porter also served in the Tennessee Legislature, was a Lt. Colonel in the Confederate Army, then served as a judge.  Under President Cleveland Porter was the First Assistant Secretary of State and later served as the Minister/Ambassador to Chile.  The former Governor also served as the President of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad for 4 years.

This is the Thomas P. Jernigan House.  This beautiful Classical Revival home was built at 918 Dunlap Street in Paris ca. 1905.  Thomas Jernigan was a banker and investor who grew rich through his investments in the E.W. Grove Medicine Company.  That company prospered through the sale of its well-known patent medicine products, including Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic and its Laxative Bromo Quinine tablets.

A few years back I posted a blog that included the old Paris railway depot.   It was built in 1891 to serve the Paducah, Tennessee and Alabama Railway...or in 1896 to serve the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway...too many conflicting dates.  Passenger service was available here until the depot was closed in 1951.

As I researched the history of the depot, I ran across my previous blog post about Paris Tennessee, including the depot.   Apparently I took this photo from the other end of the building.  These days the depot seems a bit more worn out although it is in use as the home of the Paris-Henry County Arts Council.

To view other historic sites in Paris Tennessee that I'd included in my previous post from a little over 6 years ago, you can check out my earlier exploration of the city at https://bigdaddydavesbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/2018/09/on-to-paris-tennessee-that-is.html.

That's all for now.  Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave