Among my introductions to the flyover states was Sinclair Lewis’ 1920 novel Main Street, which is my all-time favorite book. I reread it at least every other year. The story of urbane Carol Kennicott’s grudging adjustment to Gopher Prairie, Minnesota after she marries the town’s doctor (and the town’s grudging adjustment to her) is pitch-perfect [...]
Archive for January, 2009
Reading America: Main Street
Posted in Reading America, State-by-State, tagged books, Main Street, minnesota, Sinclair Lewis on January 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
When Planning a Trip, Do Local Politics Matter?
Posted in State-by-State, tagged Nashville, politics on January 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
No, you didn’t imagine that loud (and long-lasting) yay coming from Nashville on Jan. 22. It was the sound of the city’s English-only? seriously? contingent celebrating after the ridiculous measure was defeated in a (costly) special election. While nothing could come between me and my Nashville (cause it’s a pretty damned fantastic city), it did [...]
Maybe Meteor Crater Deserves Another Look
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Arizona, natural wonders on January 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Meteor Crater in Arizona seemed a very long way off the highway. By the time my husband and I reached it and paid our $15 each admission, we could only agree with the little boy who, standing crater-side with us, turned to his mother and said accusingly, “It’s just a big hole.” Truly, it looked [...]
Nevada's Brothels Only Want To Help
Posted in Uncategorized on January 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Tourism and other forms of revenue are dropping off in Nevada and so the state’s brothels are offering to help out by paying their fair share of taxes, the New York Times reports. The state is not jumping to accept. Over at “The New Republic,” Michelle Cottle read the story and was intrigued to note [...]
Nevada’s Brothels Only Want To Help
Posted in News Around the Nation, State-by-State, Uncategorized, tagged brothels, Michelle Cottle, Nevada on January 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Tourism and other forms of revenue are dropping off in Nevada and so the state’s brothels are offering to help out by paying their fair share of taxes, the New York Times reports. The state is not jumping to accept. Over at “The New Republic,” Michelle Cottle read the story and was intrigued to note [...]
Reading America: The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine
Posted in Uncategorized on January 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I’m a cliché. I admit it. No matter how many other America-related books I read, Travels with Charley in Search of America remains my favorite. But, this week, a young upstart gave Mr. Steinbeck a little butt pat, a little hey I’m here on my yeah, I like this one list. Now, The Scavenger’s Guide [...]
Reading America: The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine
Posted in Reading America, tagged cooking, hunting, nonfiction, Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine on January 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I’m a cliché. I admit it. No matter how many other America-related books I read, Travels with Charley in Search of America remains my favorite. But, this week, a young upstart gave Mr. Steinbeck a little butt pat, a little hey I’m here on my yeah, I like this one list. Now, The Scavenger’s Guide [...]
When Is Gas Station Food Better Than Restaurant Food?
Posted in State-by-State, Tasting America, Uncategorized, tagged Acadiana, Cajun, Louisiana, Nathan Stubbs on January 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Next time I go to Louisiana, I’m bringing along this article, by writer Nathan Stubbs, about great Cajun cooking in Acadiana gas stations and convenience stores. Sounds like I’ll eat a thousand times better than I did on my last trip to Louisiana, when my assignment was to sample as many Shreveport casino buffets as [...]
