Amish Country Blog

I was at First Friday’s in Goshen last Friday and we ate at Durangueneze -113 West Washington Street.  What a wonderful casual restaurant.  I loved the industrial look of this building.  It felt much more contemporary than the other restaurants in Goshen.

The food was delicious.  First, the chips and salsa were great.  I loved their salsa, not spicy but just lot of great favor.  I had tacos and my husband had the chimichangas.  The tacos did not come with anything other than the meat in them, but the plate had lettuce, tomatoes and rice and beans that could be put in the taco.  They were smaller than the big tacos I’m use to, but 3 came on my plate, and it was enough to make me fill full.  I loved them.  My husband’s chimichangas were very lightly fried and tasted great.

I can’t wait to go back and try the Cuban sandwich, and the burritos.  It was a great experience, and we’ll have to go back again.
So if you’re in need of a great Mexican meal in Amish Country, try Durangueneze.

Lots of great family friendly events are going on this week in Amish Country.

Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival August 5-8

Goshen First Fridays August 6

Meet me in St. Louis presented by Elkhart Civic Theater August 6-7

Linton’s Enchanted Gardens Hawaiian Luau August 7-8

So get out and have fun in Amish Country this week, and let me know which family friendly event is your favorite.

You may have noticed it when visiting the Elkhart Jazz Festival website, seen it an advertisement, or maybe just heard it from a friend, but the Elkhart Jazz Fest has undergone somewhat of a facelift.  This year’s festival has a new look, a new name, and a highly-anticipated new line-up.

To accommodate the ever-changing demographic of jazz, and its listeners, the Elkhart Jazz and Blues Festival has expanded genres, lowered ticket prices, and strategically placed venues throughout downtown Elkhart for the best overall audience experience.

While jazz fanatics can still count on festival favorites like Bucky Pizzarelli, Rob Parton, and Dave Bennett, there are several new faces joining the festival this year such as Hailey Niswanger – a 20 year-old up-and-coming saxophone artist coming to us from the Berklee College of Music.  If Latin-jazz is your style, be sure to look for Conjunto – this group’s unique blend of instrumentals coupled with a sultry Latin beat will have you dancing in the aisles.

Producers of the event have lowered ticket prices across the board to accommodate the sluggish economy, making the festival more accessible for individuals with any size budget.

Although the festival has been shortened by a day, the quality of performers and hometown hospitality is not in short supply.  Event organizers are excited for the festival, and already looking ahead to the 2011 Elkhart Jazz and Blues Festival.

For more information Click Here.

“Is there anywhere we can get a meal in an Amish home?”  is one of our most asked questions at the Visitor Center.  Here are three great choices.
M&L  Acres Homestyle Banquets is in Shipshewana where LeAnna Yoder is a great hostess.  Reservations are required.
The Carriage House in Topeka is a little farther from Amish Country, but well worth the trip.
Mullet’s Dining in Nappanee is one of the area favorites.
Make sure you are hungry when you come, and plan ahead.  Usually there is a minimum of 10 guests that are needed before they will serve.   It is a wonderful way to spend a meal in Amish Country.  Let us know where you went for you Amish style meal.

You’re Invited to the Indiana 500 Tour Kick-off

Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 1:30 – 3:30 PM at
Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort

Join us for Free Ice Cream at The Log Cabin Soda Shop and  Fudgery – Classic Vehicle Display – Wagon Tours – Opening Remarks by State Representative Wes Culver

*Classic car owners and motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to bring your vehicles!

The Indiana 500 Tour spans 500 miles and over 100 stops chronicling Indiana’s transportation and motorsports heritage.

Elkhart County is pleased to announce its 2010 Trail participants:
RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum
New York Central Railroad Museum
Simonton Lake Drive-in
Elkhart River Queen
Amish Acres Wagon Farm Tour
Nappanee Railroad Depot / Nappanee Center
The nationally-recognized Heritage Trail

Event Location: Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort (1600 West Market Street / Nappanee, IN 46550)

Please RSVP by May 5, 2010
Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau
574.262.8161 or ecconv@amishcountry.org

The Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival is this weekend.  On Friday, the festival runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday the festival runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.   This is a great festival, with lots of events and entertainment for the whole family.

For the first time this year, there will be a car show, along with a parade, several contests, all you can eat pancake and sausage breakfast and Wakarusa’s  PTO all you can eat  BBQ.

I hope to see you at the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival this year.

Art For The Heart – Haiti – is Goshen’s first, free community-wide benefit event featuring stellar performances of live local music, dance, and a silent auction of original, local and Haitian art. The event is being held at The Goshen Theater April 2nd First Friday – Good Friday – from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Outside the historic downtown theater, hear soulful rhythms as drums beckon you to enjoy a steaming bowl of organic rice and beans for $5. Inside, the silent art auction will be in the lobby of the theater. Bid on a vast array of local and Haitian art and craft items, including: original paintings, fashion and accessories for adults and children, music CDs, fine art and other home decor items, knitwear, and gift certificates for creative services offered within our community. Inside the auditorium, choose your seat and experience Goshen and Elkhart entertainers light up the stage with energetic sounds and powerful images from Haiti. There will be something for people of all ages and musical tastes, including individual folk/rock/alternative singers/songwriters, soul and gospel groups, and live dance performances.

For more info, please call 574-533-3933. All silent auction items will be promoted on Facebook and displayed artfully at the event. Complete information is on Facebook, at Art For The Heart – Haiti.

Please show your support, spread the word, preview the collection of art auction items, and check out the live entertainment lineup on Facebook. 100% of proceeds from this event are committed to relief and aid efforts in Haiti, and to New Life Children’s Home, which serves orphans and is providing wound recovery and physical therapy for child amputees in desperate need of prosthetic services and physical therapy in Haiti.

Let’s come together this April 2nd First Friday (Good Friday) at Art For The Heart – Haiti.

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite times of the year–roses and chocolate, chocolate and food, food and a night out, a night out and no toddler.  What a great way to spend a day.  And the best part is that your significant other usually has to say yes to your ideas for fear of ruining the day.  The Valentine’s package at the Das Dutchmen Essenhaus has all my requirements met, and it is a great place to be when the weather is cold outside.

You can have a wonderful dinner of prime rib, prosciutto wrapped chicken breast, or their famous family-style dinner.   The Mike Vaszari Ensemble will be there to play dinner music–get up and dance if you feel the urge.  A chocolate fondue fountain and a dessert buffet are also on the menu.  Each female guest receives a long stemmed rose- which is great if your partner has forgotten to get you flowers.  Then spend the night in the Essenhaus Inn.  I love that they have thought of everything on my list, and I don’t have to drive more than 20 minutes to get there.  This year, they are even offering massages!

The next day, you can walk over to the bakery and take home some of the best doughnuts you’ve ever tasted.  I think this is a great way to spend Valentine’s Day, and I hope to see you there.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

This is the time of year for Christmas Celebrations throughout Amish County.  Two of my favorite things about this time of the year are Santa and Music.  Santa doesn’t show up often, but its obvious breakfast is his favorite meal.  And the music in this area is beautiful, and helps to put me in the Holiday Spirit.

Breakfast with Santa:

December 5 at Central Fire Station from 8am to Noon.
December 13 at Amish Acres from 9am to 11pm.
December 19 at American Countryside Farmers Market beginning at 9am.

Music in Amish Country:

At the American Countryside Farmers Market there will be Christmas music every weekend until December 19 on the concert stage.  And while you’re listening to the great music, make sure you shop for unique gifts for everyone on your list.

Festival of Carols, presented by the Goshen College Choirs, will be performed on December 4.  This is a beautiful event, and one that will keep you coming back year after year.

Northridge High School is putting on a Christmas Show on December 12 called Christmas Traditions from 4pm-7pm that will feature both old and new holiday favorites.

The Elkhart Symphony Christmas Ensemble will play at Ruthmere on December 17.  Ruthmere is also dressed for Christmas.  So it will really help put you in the Christmas spirit.

No matter how you want to celebrate the Holidays in Amish Country, you’ll have a great time in Amish Country.  For more details about the above events, or to learn about other Amish Country Holiday events, please visit Amishcountry.org/events.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Last Sunday, I went to the Community Showcase of Arts Choir and Ensemble Recital at Goshen College Sauder Hall.

First, let me say that I forget how wonderfully intimate Sauder Hall is. It seats about 300 people, and you  feel very close to the stage and the performers.  This modern facility is a great asset to Goshen College, and a wonderful resource for the community.

The first group that played was the Ensemble groups.   They all did great, and the music was done well.  I loved seeing the New Horizon Orchestra play together.  Ages ranged from 8 to 80, and what a treat it was listening to the musicians.   They played a rendition of Autumn from the 4 Seasons, and a piece from Tchaikovsky.

The Shout to Joy and Rejoice choirs both sang.  The Rejoice Choir (grades 6-8) and Shout to Joy Choir (grades 3-5)  did a terrific job on “This Little Light of Mine.”

There are is a lot of talent in Goshen, and I am looking forward to the Spring Recital.  You can check out the Community Showcase of Arts events on the Goshen College website www.gcmusiccenter.org, along with all the events happening at Sauder Hall.

- Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist