If you can't go to Greece, try Nashville instead

            People were thinking big during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition that occurred in Nashville in 1897. Many buildings that went up during the Exposition followed an ancient theme — the Southern city had been called the “Athens of the South” for its highfalutin universities such as Vanderbilt — so it was only natural for them to recreate the Parthenon. This massive building in the heart of Nashville is an exact reproduction.

            The original building was meant to be a temporary display — yeah, let’s build the Parthenon but don’t worry about making it permanent! Nashville residents were so enthralled with having a slice of Greece in their midst, their mouths watering for grape leaves daily, that they insisted the towering building remain. The plaster, wood and brick building was then rebuilt using concrete. The Nashville Parthenon got an even more thorough facelift in 2002.

            Today, the Southern Parthenon is used as an art museum in the middle of Centennial Park, just outside downtown Nashville. Inside the icon lies another re-creation, that of Athena Parthenos, standing at 42 feet high and covered with more than eight pounds of gold leaf. In case you’ve forgotten your Greek history, the Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena.
            So save your money if you’re thinking of heading to Greece. Nashville, Tenn., might just do the trick.

Get out of Mardi Gras free card

            People throw parties continuously during the Carnival season, especially if they live on a parade route. Nothing attracts partygoers like free food and beer and a place to pee!

            In Lafayette, Cajun Bail Bonds sits on prized parade real estate, at the corner of Vermilion and Lafayette streets, where all of Lafayette’s parades roll down and turn. This choice corner attracts hoards of people, and to keep them all happy on Mardi Gras Day Cajun Bail Bonds provides them with lunch.

            “Come out, grab a burger and get you some Cajun Bail Bonds swag,” they announced on their Facebook page for their 14th Annual Mardi Gras Cookout. “T-shirts, coozies, pens...and as always everything is free.”

            What’s the catch, to use a Mardi Gras pun?
            The year we stood in front of Cajun Bail Bonds — and enjoyed a really good hamburger — we also received their business card. Maybe those free burgers pay off in the end — with clients!

Will Pierre see his Shadeaux?

Note: We've heard that this year's event has been cancelled because it falls on a Sunday. Does that mean winter has been cancelled too?          

    You’ve heard of the groundhog emerging every Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to look for his shadow and proclaim whether or not we will have six more weeks of winter. How about New Iberia, Louisiana?

            Not to be outdone by northern rodents, Pierre C. Shadeaux, the Cajun groundhog, will emerge from wherever he is hiding at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 2 in Bouligny Plaza of New Iberia and gives us a meteorological forecast.

            The fact that Pierre is actually a nutria shouldn’t be reason to not believe if he sees his shadow, winter will continue and if he doesn’t, Mardi Gras should be warm and sunny.

            The Cajun Ground Hog Day celebration this year will include student essay contest winners presented with awards, performances by children’s choirs, proclamations and more. For more information, call (337) 365-6773 or visit http://iberiatravel.com/.

Take plunge if you dare: Winterfest in Blowing Rock

Polar Plunge in Chetola Lake

            It’s fricking cold out there. I’m sitting here writing this blog with a cup of hot coffee and thick slippers on my feet. But if you’re like many people who embrace winter and all that it entails, check out Winterfest Jan. 23-26 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. (Even the name makes me shiver!)

            The town voted one of America’s Prettiest Winter Towns by Travel and Leisure Magazine (and I can second that accolade) offers a Chilly Chili Cook-Off, WinterFeast, bonfires, WinterPaws Dog Show, Winter Fashion Show, ice carving demonstrations, The King Bees in Concert and so much more. There’s even a Polar Plunge in Chetola Lake, which is just plum insane!

            Here’s some winter trivia for you — North Carolina owns the highest ski areas and the largest snow tubing on the East Coast, plenty of fun winter activities such as Winterfest and the French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain. There are several ski options around the Blowing Rock area, surrounded by a range of accommodations, from hotels to rustic cabins.

Chetola Lake in winter

            We’d suggest the quaint Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock with its hiking trails, pond (where insane people plunge into its icy waters), spa, heated indoor pool (for the more reasonable) and fine dining at Timberlake’s Restaurant in the Manor House Estate (named for North Carolina artist Bob Timberlake not Justin). Charming Blowing Rock with its quaint shops and restaurants is within walking distance.
            For more information on Winterfest and its list of fun activities, visit http://www.blowingrockwinterfest.com/. For more information on North Carolina skiing, visit the North Carolina Ski Areas Association at http://goskinc.com.

Bilbo drank beer from a Go-Cup

            So you thought that lovely old Hobbit in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books was from Middle Earth, eh?

            Think again.

            Recent evidence reveals Bilbo Baggins, the star of “The Hobbit” and a minor character in “The Lord of the Rings” hailed from the Bayou State. Now, where exactly in Louisiana Bilbo lived is still unclear.

            We’re found a Bilbo Street in Lake Charles, in Louisiana’s southwest corner. Even more shocking — but perhaps appropo — is the Bilbo Baggins Pub in Bossier City, just east of Shreveport.

            When you think about it, hobbits hailing from Louisiana makes sense. Usually peace-loving people who only want to eat, drink and tell funny stories. Yeah, I can see Bilbo and Frodo strolling through the Shire with a go-cup alright. They probably even have little parades as well, throwing useless crap made in China from tiny ponies. 

Breakfast with wintering Texans

The holidays aren’t just about Santa on Galveston Island. On this Texan barrier island south of Houston, the holidays have gone to the birds. Every year Galveston offers a “Breakfast with the Sandhill Cranes” to observe the tall birds in their natural habitat. This year, the event happens from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15, 2013, at Moody Gardens Golf Course.

Credit: Barbara Rabek

First, there’s a breakfast and presentation about sandhill crane behavior, then a tour of the island’s West End where the birds hang out. Keanna Leonard, education director at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska, will present a mini-workshop titled “The Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes,” designed for beginners and experienced birders alike.

“They (the island’s cranes) are absolutely stunning, standing 3 1/2-feet  to 4-feet tall with a little red cap,” said Julie Ann Brown, executive director of the Galveston Island Nature TourismCouncil.

Sounds like they’re in the holiday spirit for sure.

And there’s more to this avian event, Brown added.

“After breakfast and the presentation, all participants will be invited to go on a ‘crane crawl’ to visit previously scouted crane ‘hotspots’ on the island’s West End,” she said. “We’ll have experienced birders with spotting scopes at each site on hand to answer questions. Participants can meander in any order and at their own pace to view the ‘wintering Texans.’ It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season!”

Upcoming events include the Sea Turtle Saturday and Sea Turtle Saturday for Kids on Feb. 8, 2014, and FeatherFest 2014, an all-inclusive bird event April 10-13, 2014. For more information on any of these events, visit www.GalvestonNatureTourism.org.

Yodeling in the Georgia mountains

            Helen,Georgia, is an adorable mountain village. What’s unique is that Helen is not. The entire town is patterned after an alpine village.

            It all began in 1969 when three businessmen brainstormed on how to turn the north Georgia community into a tourist destination. They enlisted the help of artist John Kollock, who sketched visions of Helen based on Bavarian mountain villages he witnessed while in the service in Germany. The idea was adopted and Helen transformed into something right out of the Alps.

            One of the best times to visit Helen is during the holidays, especially if you’re lucky to coincide with a snowfall. Visitors can enjoy the sixth annual Christkindlmarkt, a German tradition where the center of town is filled with booths offering specialty gift items and culinary treats Nov. 29-Dec. 1 and Dec. 7-8 in the Helen Market Platz. Santa and Mrs. Claus Santa sleigh into town via horse-drawn carriage during the Annual Lighting of the Village beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 in downtown Helen.

            The Festival of Trees begins Nov. 27 at Unicoi State Park and Lodge, an affordable and family-friendly state park that offers a lodge, cabins, dining area, hiking trails and plenty of outdoor activities. The festival lasts until Dec. 14.

Joe and Tina Smith
of Serenity Cellars
with Dolce Bello    

            Get a two-for-one on Dec. 7 when the Helen Christmas Parade winds through downtown Helen beginning at 2 p.m. and the Annual Christmas in the Mountains LightedParade at 7 p.m. in nearby downtown Cleveland.

            Sticking true to the German theme is Kinderfest with its activities for children Dec. 7, 14 and 21 in downtown Helen.

            For the shopper, the area offers German-styled Christmas gifts, Appalachian artwork and crafts and several wineries, such as Habersham Winery, Serenity Cellars (make sure you sample the decadent chocolate Dolce Bello) and Yonah Mountain Vineyards, home to Georgia’s only wine cave. For an elegant meal, Bernie’s Retaurant in nearby Sautee Nacoochee serves up fine dining and pairs dishes with locally produced wine.
           To help plan your trip to the Alps of Georgia, visit www.HelenGA.org.

City photos courtesy of Alpine Helen-White County Convention and Visitors Bureau.