It’s projected that up to 275 indoor shopping malls could fade from the retail scene within the next five years. Omaha’s Westroads Mall plans to be around long after celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018. To do that, Westroads recruited new, more contemporary stores, such as The Container Store, while seeing older stores undergo renovations […]
Hearts beat strongly this year in Lincoln, Nebraska. And I’m not talking about the pounding hearts of Nebraska football fans as the team strives to return to greatness. More than 80 heart statues are scattered around Nebraska’s capital city as part of a fundraiser. “Nebraska by Heart” features 6-foot tall fiberglass hearts on a base […]
Audibles are part of the game in football, but what about when the fair gods decide the day you’re going to the Minnesota State Fair that it’s a good day for rain? Well, I guess you make sure to have a jacket or poncho and a favorite ball cap on, because that’s the only way […]
Located along the Fox River and about 45 minutes from downtown Chicago, lies the city of Elgin. Illinois’ eighth-largest city was once home to the Blackhawk Native Americans. The community became known for its dairy products. Today, Elgin is home to great food and great people. From the moment that we arrived into Elgin, and […]
Who knew that those skates you wore at your favorite roller rink as a kid date back to the mid-1700s? The folks at the National Museum of Roller Skating, did, that’s who. “National Museum of Roller Skating?” you ask. Yep, it’s headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. The museum explores the history of roller skating, from their […]
Decorah, Iowa, becomes the center of the universe for bird lovers early spring. That’s when you can tune in to the Raptor Resource’s tree cam and watch baby eagles move about and cry for their parents to bring them food. And more food. And more food. In fact, you can see the eaglets in action […]
LeClaire, Iowa – the birthplace of American entertainment icons. It started a century ago with the birth of William Cody. Today, it’s Ground Zero for antique junkies. Cody – better known as Buffalo Bill – was born in small cabin near the city limits. Mike Wolfe “birthed” “American Pickers,” a television series based on his […]
“Stop and smell the flowers.” Great words to live by. We all need to take some time to relax and enjoy life. But, what about actually stopping and smelling flowers? This summer, I have visited several arboretums and botanical gardens. Each has its attributes. My walk through The University of Washington’s arboretum rates among the […]
As you approach, you may forget you’re in Minnesota and not in Germany. The exterior of the Best Western hotel in New Ulm resembles a building you may see in Deutschland, but, rest assured, you’re in the good ol’ USA. We enjoyed a nice weekend stay at the hotel during a visit to the south-central […]
How often is the sequel bigger than the original? I guess in Hollywood, often. How about in breweries? In the case of Singlespeed Brewery in Cedar Falls, Iowa, its sequel produces seven times as much beer as the original. The nanobrewery opened in 2012. Singlespeed opened as a 3 BBL operation. They produce three barrels […]
