Top 10 Coolest Midwest Museums 2014

Grohmann Museum Rooftop Sculptures

Museums are more than just somewhere you are forced to go on an elementary school field trip. After you grow up (and are no longer required to go) you find out they are nice. Even tasty in some cases.

Whatever your interests there is a good chance a museum devoted to it exists somewhere. Unfortunately many museums have little or no budget available for marketing and go unknown. Food, music, military, fine and performing arts, outer space, underground and on land, water and wheels ~ pretty much anything goes. Below are the ones I believe should make someone's bucket list.

Top 10 Coolest
Midwest Museums 2014

GROHMANN MUSEUM

More than 1,000 paintings, mosaics and sculptures line the walls, floors and rooftop paying homage to the laborers throughout history in the Eckhart G. Grohmann "Man at Work" collection, located in Milwaukee. The passion of Dr. Grohmann encompasses works (from 1580 through post WWII era) depicting farmers, glass blowers, miners and other trades people he had watched as a child in Germany. Dr. Grohmann happened to be in the museum when I visited and proved to be a delightful and gracious host, passionate in his respect to working men and women, stemming from his days spent at his grandfather's marble processing plant.

GrohmannMuseum.org

NATIONAL MUSTARD MUSEUM

Is there anyone who hasn't had a hot dog slathered with the bright yellow goo known as mustard? With literally hundreds of flavors, mustard is the new black in the world of condiments. Located near Madison, in Middleton, Wisconsin is the coolest of quirky when it comes to museums. From the hundreds of different types of mustard to try (and purchase), to Poupon U mustard university, to the fresh pretzels and hot dogs in house to eat for lunch with, what else, mustard, this is the only museum devoted to the yellow spread. Spicy, sweet, maple ~ even chocolate ~ can be found in a jar, bottle or tube, along with mustard serving spoons and dishes dating to the beginning of mustardom.

MustardMuseum.com

CRANBROOK INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

Michigan's Museum of Natural History
This is one of those museums adults love to go to even though they'll pretend it's really for the kids. The scientific section of the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills (metro Detroit), is the ultimate spot for learning about the world around us. Featuring, among many other areas, a Bat Zone, planetarium theater, observatory, and plant gardens, summer programs are also popular, along with overnights and themed lectures and galeries.
Science.Cranbrook.edu

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME MUSEUM

From The Everly Brothers to The Beatles and on to Van Halen, music has been a part of American history as the inventor of the rock and roll genre. The coolest list would not be complete without the Cleveland, OH music pillar. Fans flock from around the world to see thousands of artifacts including, concert posters, instruments and rockers' jewelry among other items. Exhibits, live entertainment and inductee ceremonies give music lovers a one-stop venue to enjoy all that is Rock and Roll.

RockHall.org

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF MAGIC

Highlighting the masters of magic through thousands of artifacts, the Marhsall, MI shares the history, memorabilia and artifacts of such famous magicians as Harry Houdini and Harry Blackstone, among others. Children and adults alike will find fascinating items in this educational and fun museum. Gifts, books and magicians' coins are available in the gift shop. Supported by the National Endowment of Arts, research appointments are available at the archive center which houses more than four centuries of information about magic and magicians.
AmericanMuseumofMagic.org

INDIANA MEDICAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Located in Indianapolis, this museum is one which will surprise you with the background story. The history of the Old Pathology Building places it on the campus once used as the Central State (Mental) Hospital. The National Register of Historic Places building features an autopsy room, amphitheater lecture hall and three clinical laboratories used in the beginning era of psychiatric medicine. On the grounds, also, is the Medicinal Plant Garden, featuring more than 90 medicinal plants for education and demonstration purposes. It is maintained by Purdue Master Gardeners of Marion County.

IMHM.org

CITY MUSEUM

St. Louis is the home to the Cardinals, the Arch and the Mighty Mississippi River, it's true. However, this hands- and feet- on interactive museum might be even more popular. The 10-story spiral slide begins on the rooftop where you'll find a school bus hanging off the building's edge and various midway equipment (still working and safe). It will wind you down through floors of enchanted caves, the shoelace factory and MonstroCity. Tours, educational programs and age-appropriate activities solidify the learning-through-fun premise.

CityMuseum.org

MARK TWAIN BOYHOOD HOME & MUSEUM

Few literary figures elicit a museum, and this is a personal favorite author from my childhood. A town of sorts, complete with Grant's era-replicated drug store, Becky Thatcher's home, Twain's boyhood home and father's law office. Merging Twain's actual childhood and literary characters creates a 3D historical situation. Interactive events (whitewashing the famous fence) free outdoor musical concerts and walking tours of the eight building compound make this a family friendly museum.

MarkTwainmuseum.org

FIRST DIVISION MUSEUM AT CANTIGNY

Located just west of Chicago is Cantigny Park, 500 acres of gardens, golf, camping and picnic grounds open to the public, along with two museums. First Division Museum preserves, interprets and presents the history of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division, "in order to promote understanding of American military history and affairs." Gardens, live music evenings and exhibits, such as "WE NEED YOU! Propaganda of the Great War," and the Historic Military Vehicle Collection make this a museum, gardens and park not just for military, history and vehicle buffs.

FirstDivisionMuseum.org

ELLWOOD HOUSE
Step back in time to a world changing rapidly at the 1879 home of barbed wire entrepreneur, Isaac Ellwood, situated in Dekalb, IL. The three-story mansion features original Victorian style architecture and Gothic Revival, Georgian and Colonial Revival styles through subsequent remodeling projects. Gardens, exhibits and the home are open to the public for tours, events and an extensive interactive youth program, which focuses on art, history and nature. Children will be able to hunt for replicas of sea life, dragons and other creatures within paintings, carved into wood and throughout the mansion.

EllwoodHouse.org

Images were provided~

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, and in magazines. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Horseshoe Cincinnati Hosts $500,000 Queen City Classic Poker Tourney

I like to bet. I do. On baby birth dates and weights, and on football ~ I know, I know, I don't know a lot about sports. But... I bet anyway. I bet on the pretty outfits. And lose, by the way.

However, I can play Black Jack.

This makes me believe, erroneously, that I can also play Poker. Which, according to most people over the age of 5, I can't. At least not well. I, in fact, have to keep a little card denoting the hierarchy of power: Aces over kings I understand ~ my card reminds me that a pair is lower than three of a kind, and two pairs are higher than three nines. (I think)

Anyway, I can never remember which is straight and which is straight flush and the royal flush is impossible to remember. And no, I don't want to play you this weekend for money, but thanks for offering...

There are many people who can recall which goes where and when you should fold. I, personally, am horrible at bluffing. For those who understand, there exists a pot of gold. Or at least a pot of $500K.

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati will host the inaugural Queen City Classic poker tournament March 13-24, which promises to pay out a minimum $500,000 prize pool, including a $100,000 main prize.

Reminiscent of the World Series of Poker Circuit event that took place last September at Horseshoe Cincinnati, the 12-day Queen City Classic will be hosted on the Pavilion level of the casino.

Buy-ins for the QCC range from $100 to $1,500 for the main event on March 24. The buy-in for No Limit Hold ‘Em the first day of the tournament is $260. Games for the tournament range from No Limit Hold ‘Em to Omaha, with tournaments designed specifically for seniors. There are also five Bounty series tournaments and 10 Turbo Series tournaments.

  

Players may register each day of the Classic and are allowed unlimited re-buys. More details at Horseshoecincinnati.com.  

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Fox 59 Morning News Show. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, and in magazines. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

PNC Pavilion Offers Wine and Beer Tastings at Concerts

PNC Pavilion Offers Wine Tastings, Beer Samplings and Cook Outs at Concerts

As the summer concert season kicks into full gear at Cincinnati's PNC Pavilion, the venue announces pre-show cook-outs, wine tastings and craft beer tastings are included with every ticket purchased.

Cook-Out Series
Concert-goers will be treated to a free cook-out while local bands provide entertainment. Being served will be a variety of brats, mets and hot dogs along with salads and all the fixin's.

July 23 Heart

July 25 Steve Miller Band

Aug 11 Jackson Browne

Aug 17 Il Volo

Wine Tastings SeriesConcert-goers will sample three selections of wine from a total of six different wines (three Red and three White) to choose from. All six selections will be available for purchase throughout the evening to enjoy at the show or to take home for another special occasion.

July 30 Crosby, Stills & Nash

Wines: Blufeld Riesling; Apothic White Blend; Clos Du Bois Unoaked Chardonnay; Franciscan Chardonnay; Clos Du Bois Rouge (Red Blend); Diseno Malbec;

Craft Beer Sampling Series
Included with the price of each ticket to the shows below, concert-goers will be treated to a craft beer sampling featuring an array of this year’s most popular craft beers.

July 11 Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit & Marcy Playground

Beers: Victory Summer Love; Anderson Valley Summer Solstice; Shiner Ruby Redbird; Samuel Adams Porch Rocker; Moerlein Exposition; Magic Hat Elderbetty; Thirsty Dog Labrador Lager; Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold; Smuttynose Old brown Dog; Rogue American Amber; Brooklyn Pale Ale; Mt. Carmel IPA; Sierra Nevada Torpedo; 21st Amendment Back in Black; Newcastle Seasonal; Angry Orchard Dry

Aug 8

Train with Mat Kearney and Andy Grammer

Beers: Samuel Adams Oktoberfest; Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar; Anchor Liberty; Victory Prima Pils; Great Lakes Burning River; Sierra Nevada keller-weisse; 21A Watermelon Wheat; Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat; Thirsty Dog Twisted Kilt; Victory Prima pils; Moerlein Northern Liberties; Samuel Smith Strawberry beer; Blanche de Bruxelles; Anderson Valley IPA ; Angry Orchard Ginger Cider; Magic Hat #9

For show times, tickets and directions, visit Riverbend.org.


Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her newest column, Infused at GottaGo.us and FoodandDrinkDigital.com and as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on Gottago.us, BroadwayWorld.com, in M magazine and these newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Infused: Christian Moerlein Lager House in Review

Where can you go with a hankering for a nice pint, views of two professional ball stadiums and food infused with various spirits, wine and beer? Only one place. In fact, you will need to trek to the nation’s Midwest region for such a high-maintenance request.

Cincinnati, to be exact.

Upscale Christian Moerlein Lager House, recently opened, offers a gourmet gastropub menu, gleaming taps and every sports fan’s dream – an up close and personal view of the home for the Cincinnati Bengals and the home of the Cincinnati Reds.
Being privy to a four hour private tour of the craft-beer lover’s version of Disneyland, I could only gawk and grin at the marvel of this, this … I don’t want to say beer joint … this, this …

World Class Beer Mecca.

Seriously, who thinks of things like this? Two stories high with seating for nearly 750 of your closest friends, a beer garden, wraparound outdoor seating, and, oh, just for fun -- live music in the park in which it resides, sitting majestically overlooking the Ohio River, paddle and steam boats cruising along for colorful scenery (in case the stadiums aren’t enough).

Although it would have been so simple for proprietor Greg Hardman to have gone over-the-top with the décor and atmosphere, he has instead, somehow created a blended ambiance of familiar congeniality and understated elegance. As friendly as a neighborhood pub, Moerlein’s pulls off its regal pose while keeping a mindful eye on the original brewing district of German settlers known as Over-the-Rhine.

Gone are the days of underground tunnels keeping barrels cool, giving way to the microbrewery setup Hardman has situated directly to the left of the grand entrance. Acquiring the entire Hudepohi-Schoenling Brewing Co. of Cincinnati's line of brands, Hardman is now the proud, yet somehow modest, owner of Christian Moerlein, Little Kings Cream Ale, Hudepohl Amber Lager, Hudy Delight and Burger.

Beyond the numerous, seasonally changing, tap offerings, the 28,000 square foot lager house has a menu to drool over. Rivaling the finest restaurants and surpassing the standard pub’s level of epicurean delights, Chef Carl Chambers, executive chef, has created a menu infused with beer, spirits and wine for every palate. Barbecue sauce with dark lager, smoked malt marinades, prime rib with Barbarossa demi and horseradish cream, mussels with white wine … oh, so many choices. The list is extensive without ever losing its original focus.

Elizabeth Recommends:
No matter what else happens upon being seated, order immediately from the meat & cheese boards menu for the taste bud teaser you’ll enjoy indicative of the pure delight your foodie palate is in for within this noblest of all craft beer establishments. It is a “choose two or three of each” style selection, including smoked salmon, Prosciutto, candied pork belly, King Ludwig beer cheese, and Cambozola to name a few options.

Beer flights: Get them, enjoy them and then decide which is your favorite beer for a full serving.

Desserts: Here is where it starts to hurt. You absolutely must save room (trust me it will be extremely difficult) for the desserts at this Cincy jewel. Some options include, Black Cherry Forest Cake with Kirschwasser cherry compote and chocolate ganache, Apple Almond Bread Pudding with toffee-crusted vanilla ice cream, brown sugar almonds and white chocolate sauce, Orange Panna Cotta with Grand Marnier candied oranges ... see what I mean?

Bottom Line: Greg Hardman’s Christian Moerlein Lager House brings the world’s attention to Cincinnati’s brewing heritage, sets the future standard for all craft beer establishments and puts ‘Cincinnati’ on the lips of every worthwhile beer drinker, brewer and expert.

Need to know:
Website: ChristianMoerlein.com
Reservations: Highly recommended due to baseball and football home games, concerts, etc.
Parking: Underground parking garage
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 11a.m. – Midnight; Fri & Sat: 11a.m. – 1a.m.; Sun: 11a.m. – 11p.m.
Address: 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: 513-421-2337

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living columnist, travel writer, and restaurant and performing arts critic. Find her new column, Infused at FoodandDrinkDigital.com, catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook. Gotta Go is published on BroadwayWorld.com, GottaGo.us and in M magazine and the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Cincinnati Hosts 2012 World Choir Games

Cincinnati Hosts

2012 World Choir Games

Countdown Begins with Kickoff July 11

CINCINNATI (OH) – The countdown to the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA officially starts with a celebration event July 11 at downtown Cincinnati’s Fountain Square from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Cincinnati native Drew Lachey – member of Grammy-nominated 98 Degrees and winner of the second season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” – will emcee the event, introducing a variety of national musical performers and kick starting a yearlong cultural celebration that will put Cincinnati USA on the international stage.

Choir member from Venezuela 

Cincinnati's Fountain Square will be abuzz with strolling choirs and festival-style booths celebrating the region’s rich international flavor and heritage. Lachey will take the stage at noon, welcoming the following local and national musical performers:

·         Atlanta-based Gospel recording artist Byron Cage with more than 50 singers from the Cincinnati Citywide Mass Choir. Known as the "Prince of Praise," Cage has been performing and recording songs since the 1980s and has become known for his cross-cultural, mass-appeal praise and worship style. His work has been nominated for Grammy, Stellar and NAACP Image Awards.

·         The Eleventh Hour Choir from Kettering, Ohio, finalists in the NBC hit show “The Sing Off.”

·         Singer and songwriter Kelly King, star of “The American Dream,” presented at the 2010 World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China.

Lachey will also host the debut public appearance by Whirl, the official mascot of the 2012 World Choir Games. The mascot, designed by local artist Davis Stanard and produced by Stagecraft, Inc., in Northside, will be available for photos.

Prior to that – beginning at 11:30 a.m. – Dan Lincoln, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau and member of the Cincinnati Organizing Committee for the 2012 World Choir Games, will unveil the official 2012 World Choir Games Countdown Clock with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory. The clock is being created by Harrison, Ohio-based Geograph Industries Inc., and will be a permanent fixture on Fountain Square until the Games are completed in July 2012. Lincoln will also welcome Hamilton County Commission President Greg Hartmann, who will recognize the volunteer leadership of the Games from across Cincinnati USA.

In addition, international pin trading opportunities – modeled after pin trading at the Olympic Games – will begin with the unveiling of exclusive, limited edition pins commemorating the Countdown to the Games.

The World Choir Games, produced by Germany-based INTERKULTUR, is the largest international choral competition in the world and is held every two years. The 7th World Choir Games will take place July 4-14, 2012, and for the first time ever will be hosted in the United States. The event is expected to attract 20,000 competitors from about 70 countries. Procter & Gamble is the first Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 World Choir Games.

 For more information about the 2012 World Choir Games:

    ·         www.2012worldchoirgames.com

             ·         Facebook.com/world.choir.games.2012

·         Twitter.com/worldchoirgames

    ·         Flickr.com/2012worldchoirgames

        ·         Youtube.com/2012worldchoirgames

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.
Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.