Something weird in the air this spring

            Let’s call this a weird South spring.

            Someone recently posted to a Louisiana Freecycle that they have a pet rabbit to give away, but only to be used as a PET. As they say, nothing on legs is safe in the South.

I am not a gumbo!

     In South Florida, a man tried to break into his Ex’s house by slipping down the chimney like Santa Claus and got stuck. Emergency teams had to dismantle the chimney to free the man. I’ll bet the Ex had wished they had dismantled HIM. See the video here.

     Also in Florida after enjoying two cases of beer, a man stabbed his friend AND his dog over the last can of Natural Ice beer. He claimed self-defense. Wouldn’t you? Check out his handsome mug here.

     The winner goes to New Orleans socialite and philanthropist Marycathyrn "Mickey" Easterling, who was known for her wild hats and lifestyle and relentless support of the arts. She passed away in April but that wasn’t the last of Mickey. She later appeared at the  “party to celebrate her life” at New Orleans’ Saenger Theater. In addition to her favorite foods and cocktails being served at the party was Easterling dressed to the max with her trademark hat, seated on a bench. Check out the photos of Mickey live in the afterlife here.

Hotel Roanoke offers sweet deal

            Roanoke is a sweet town nestled in the Virginia mountains, offering great museums, art galleries, dining opportunities and numerous hiking trails and wineries throughout the region.

            Here’s another sweet reason to visit. The historic Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center will welcome visitors with two signature chocolate chip cookies per person today in celebration of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. And you don’t even need a reservation to receive your cookies, although the hotel is a pretty special place to stay, a charming example of old-style hospitality with 331 guest rooms and 19 suites, walking trails and easy access to historic downtown streets.

Spoon bread and peanut soup

            The Hotel Roanoke is a DoubleTree by Hilton, a brand known for welcoming guests with warm chocolate chip cookies upon check-in. Today’s event is part of its global “Cookie Care” program, which launched this spring to celebrate the brand’s milestone of giving out more than 300 million cookies at check-in.

            The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is located at 110 Shenandoah Ave. in Roanoke. While you’re there, make sure to sample their famous peanut soup and spoon bread served in the hotel’s restaurants.
        For information on the hotel, call (540) 985-5900. For information on Cookie Care and to enter to win prizes, visit https://www.facebook.com/Doubletree/app_550598988381052.

In Texas, like everything else, the art is really big!

            They say everything in Texas is bigger. In Eastland, west of Dallas, that includes artwork.
            You’ll spot what we mean the minute you leave the interstate for a Blizzard at the Diary Queen — a giant Campbell’s Soup Can that would have been courtesy of Andy Warhol if he had created it himself exists just off the exit ramp.

            The soup can is one of numerous pieces of giant art placed throughout Eastland. The artwork first began as a class assignment and turned into a community-wide project, according to the town’s tourism web site. Each piece of art — classic artwork blown up large — also includes a story of the painter and the piece. Artwork includes those by Norman Rockwell, Dr. Seuss, Van Gogh and Mary Cassatt, to name a few.

            To travel through Eastland and view these dozens of massive art pieces, stop by the Chamber of Commerce for a map — or the soup can next to Dairy Queen on the Interstate Service Road. For more information, visit http://www.eastlandfoundation.com/outdoorArt.html.
            As an FYI, the town named for Texas Ranger and San Jacinto hero Captain William N. Eastland was founded in 1891. Its growth occurred in 1917 when oil was discovered here.

Checking in with Lewis and Clark

            The Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch in St. Louis wants to offer more than comfortable rooms and convention space. The modern hotel housed in an historic building once used as a fur auction, includes an indoor pool and hot tub on the top floor overlooking the famous Arch and all kinds of free amenities, from Wifi and long distance to full hot breakfasts and overindulgent snacks and cocktails at 5:30 p.m.

     The hotel also comes with a history lesson. In the lobby is a recreation of the Lewis and Clark Exposition, which departed May 1804 from St. Louis to explore a route to the Pacific coast. The group included Captain Meriwether Lewis, Second Lt. William Clark, a Shoshone Indian named Sacagawea and and her husband Toussaint Charbonneau. The dog depicted in the lobby exhibit is Lewis' dog, Seaman, who was once stolen by Indians while the group traveled along the route. Although we're not sure who the rabbit is.

            The Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch is centrally located in downtown St. Louis with Busch Stadium only two blocks away and the arch just around the corner. Other attractions are within a good walk or a short cab drive.

            Just so you know, St. Louis was not named for Meriwether Lewis (note the spelling differences) but for French King Louis XIV.