Amish Country Blog

The Elkhart County Historical Museum’s temporary exhibit “Beyond Necessity: Folk Art from the Permanent Collection” will be extended to December 17!  This popular exhibit features folk art made by area artists.

Several Russian Orthodox decorated towels have been added to the exhibit.  Recently donated from the Holy Virgin Protection Orthodox Church of Goshen, the towels were used to adorn icons on the walls of their sanctuary.  Each one is a very long white towel featuring colorful designs at each end, as well as crochet work and fringes.  The towels are a very important addition to the museum’s collection, which has few items representing non-English immigrant groups in the county.  Come check out the beautiful artifacts!

The Elkhart County Historical Museum’s hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

-Rebmecca Oestreich Elkhart County Historical Museum

I know.  You’ve called us for the Travel Guide, and you’ve mapped out your entire stay.  You have the map in the middle of the guide, and you go on your way.  Coming to the Visitor Center is not on your list of things to do.

The great thing about the Visitor Center is that everyone here is knowledgeable about the area.  We can give you easy directions to anywhere you want to go in the area.  We know about events that are happening in the area, and we can pass that information along to you to enhance your trip.  We have some regional information here so if you are here for a few days, you can find more options for your stay.  We also have a great quilt exhibit for your enjoyment in the Visitor Center.

We are the most knowledgeable about the Heritage Trail Route and the Quilt Garden Tour, and can give you tips about both tours.  We have maps and plenty of information.  We’re also very friendly and love talking to visitors.  So when you’re in the area, come and visit us.
The Visitor Center is located at 219 Caravan Drive, Elkhart, IN, and I hope to see you soon.

I went for a ride on The Elkhart River Queen.  It was a nice, relaxing ride on the upper St. Joe River.  There is beautiful scenery, lots of friendly boaters and natural wildlife to look at while taking this two hour cruise.   You also get to learn a little about Elkhart’s history on the water, something I didn’t know before.

So if you have a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon, and want to relax, take a ride on the River Queen. And while we’re talking about relaxing, let us know how you like to relax on a Sunday afternoon.

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.

Our museums do a great job.  They have great exhibits and are run by people who are extremely passionate about what they do.  Two of our museums are offering series so you can learn more about each collection in the museums.

The Ruthmere Museum is offering a lecture series about the hidden treasures of Ruthmere on Wednesdays for the month of May.  The cost is $10 a session.

The Midwest Museum of American Art is offering Noon Time Talks by curator Brian Bryn on Thursdays for the summer.  This is a free series.

These events are great ways to learn more about the collections in each museum.  Let us know what you learned at the talks.

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

Sweet Creams Soda Shop
700 S. Main @ State Street / Elkhart / 574.970.5568
-Step back in time
-Try the lunch-time grilled cheese with sautéed peppers & onions
-Best noon ‘till 1:30 pm

Michael’s Italian Restaurant – since 1957
Corner of 6th & Harrison / Elkhart / 574. 522.3664
-Great local feel with “Wednesday night regulars”  – mayor, former police chief
-Best Wednesdays 7 – 8:30 pm

Tabletop Soignee at Flytrap’s
505 S. Main Street / Elkhart / 574.295.1400
-Check out the beef “brutzli” served on a cooking stone @ table
-Great a-la-minute Swiss methods
-Cool original art

Thirsty Thursdays @ The Vine
214 S. Main Street / Elkhart / 574.970.5006
-50% off wines by the bottle each Thursday, free tastings – very popular
-Great retro interior

Power Lunch Fridays
McCarthy’s on the RiverWalk / Elkhart
333 NIBCO Parkway @ Elkhart Avenue bridge / 574.293.2830
-The place for bankers/ developers/ players to launch deals
-Best  Fridays 12 – 1:30 pm

I took a much needed break this weekend.  I stayed at the Staybridge Suites, and it was a wonderful experience.

The front desk attendants were friendly, and helpful.

I enjoyed the room layout.  I had a full kitchen, with a full fridge.  That was a convenient since I didn’t want to leave the room that weekend.  I had two flat screen TV’s in my suite–one in the common room and one in the bedroom, both flat screens.  The rooms was quite, I couldn’t hear any outside noise although the property is by a major road.

For breakfast, there were lots of choices, from hot items to fruit and cereal.  They didn’t have hot tea, but I muddled through without it.  It was a good way to start my day.

I had the pool to myself for most of the weekend.  Because this property is new, most travelers don’t know to stay here yet, and I got to take advantage of lots of pool time.  The property also has a theater room, and a workout room, neither of which I used.  There is also on site guest laundry facilities.

So when you want a good place to stay, check out Staybridge Suites.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy the property.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites girls to bring their American Girl Doll to the museum and learn together what life was like for children growing up in the 1970s.  On Saturday, Februrary 27th the museum will host “The Groovy ‘70s: Featuring American Girl Julie!”

The program will focus on some of the things that helped define the ‘70s.  One example is the environmentalist movement which made great strides in the 1970s.  1970 marked the first celebration of Earth Day and the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1972. “In recognition of the environmentalist movement, the girls will be making kites just like Julie did in her book Julie and the Eagles,” says Oestreich.  “Julie made and sold the kites to try and raise money to save endangered bald eagles.”

Girls will also be making projects featuring some of the fads of the 1970s. “Two of the more famous fads are lava lamps and pet rocks,” says Oestreich.  “So each girl will get to make a lava lamp and pet rock to take home.”  Other fads included roller skating, homemade ribbon barrettes, and pong.  In addition, many girls in the seventies read Judy Blume books and watched Little House on the Prairie.

Girls are welcome to come dressed in seventies inspired attire.  For girls this means bell-bottomed pants, platform shoes, turtle neck shirts, and flower prints.  Hair for girls switched from long and straight in the first part of the decade to more loose and feathery like the hair of Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcet in the latter part of the seventies.

Several American Girl related prizes will be awarded to participants including a grand prize of the Julie doll.  Additionally there will be prizes of American Girl story books, activity books, and clothing.  If anyone is interested in donating items to allow for more girls to go home with prizes please contact the museum.

While the bringing of an American Girl Doll to the program is encouraged it is not required.  Everyone is welcome to attend the program whether or not they have a doll.

The cost to attend “The Groovy ‘70s: Featuring American Girl Julie!” is $3/girl. Participants may choose from a morning session from 10:00 to 12:00 or an afternoon session from 1:30 to 3:30. Pre-registration is required.  To register or for more information, please contact Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Rebecca Oestreich Elkhart County Historical Museum

I love watching the Olympics, and the ice skating competitions are my favorite.  After that I love watching speed skating.  It’s amazing how much talent these athletes have in working a thin little blade against ice. After every jump, spin and dance I wonder how they stay upright.   Then, I want to go out and try these moves myself.

In Elkhart, we have a great facility for working on all your ice skating dreams.  The NIBCO Water and Ice Park is open through March.  It is a beautiful facility on the Elkhart River.   It has a rink, but the best part of the rink is the ice path that goes out of the rink.  I love this feature.  It makes me feel like I’m a great skater…There are no sides to hold onto on this path.  I feel like an Olympic Skater after completing it and not falling down!

I hope when you visit the NIBCO Water and Ice Park you enjoy your moments on the ice.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist