Author: Jane Simon Ammeson

Jane Simon Ammeson is a freelance writer who specializes in travel, food and personalities. She writes frequently for The Times of Northwest Indiana, Mexico Connect, Long Weekends magazine, Edible Michiana, Lakeland Boating, Food Wine Travel magazine , Lee Publications, and the Herald Palladium where she writes a weekly food column. Her TouchScreenTravels include Indiana's Best. She also writes a weekly book review column for The Times of Northwest Indiana as well as food and travel, has authored 16 books including Lincoln Road Trip: The Back-road Guide to America's Favorite President, a winner of the Lowell Thomas Journalism Award in Travel Books, Third Place and also a Finalist for the 2019 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the Travel category. Her latest books are America's Femme Fatale: The Story of Serial Killer Belle Gunness and Classic Restaurants of Northwest Indiana. Her other books include How to Murder Your Wealthy Lovers and Get Away with It, A Jazz Age Murder in Northwest Indiana and Murders That Made Headlines: Crimes of Indiana, all historic true crime as well Hauntings of the Underground Railroad: Ghosts of the Midwest, Brown County, Indiana and East Chicago. Jane’s base camp is Stevensville, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Follow Jane at facebook.com/janesimonammeson; twitter.com/hpammeson; https://twitter.com/janeammeson1; twitter.com/travelfoodin, instagram.com/janeammeson/ and on her travel and food blog janeammeson.com and book blog: shelflife.blog/

Janet Davies stars in Dunes Summer Arts Theatre’s season opener ‘Misery’

Dunes Summer Arts Theatre, Entertainment, Michigan City, Uncategorized

Post by Eloise Marie Valadez, Guest Blogger

Television journalist Janet Davies is showcasing her talents as an actress in the latest play at Dunes Summer Arts Theatre in Michigan City.

Photo by Tony V. Martin.

Davies said she has long been interested in theater and live performance, as well as what they bring to an audience.

“What I like about theater is hearing a reaction to what you’re doing on stage, whether it’s a gasp, a laugh or a chuckle. You know you’re touching someone,” Davies said.

Davies added the immediacy you get in the theater is great and nothing is ever exactly the same twice.

“You can’t get that on television,” she said.

Davies stars alongside actor Kevin Giese in “Misery,” The play, directed by John Hancock, continues to June 15 at Dunes Summer Arts Theatre. “Misery,” based on the book by Stephen King, is a thriller which recounts the story of writer Paul Sheldon who is held hostage in the home of his deranged number one fan Annie Wilkes after his car crashes near her house.

About the production “Misery,” Davies said it’s “very emotional.”  It’s also a production with highly dramatic ups and downs and “blood and guts,” she added.

Davies said she admired Kathy Bates work in the hit film version of “Misery,” which she’s seen once.

Working with Dunes Summer Arts Theatre on this show, Davies said, is a real honor.

She said she wanted to give a “shoutout” to her “Misery” costar Giese, as well as director Hancock who are both terrific to work with.

Davies, who has been retired from television broadcasting for the past five years, lives in southwestern Michigan. She is heavily involved in the arts and theatrical community and serves as board chair for Acorn Center for The Performing Arts in Three Oaks, Michigan.

Throughout her career, Davies was a TV journalist in Chicago, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. She spent 37 years as a reporter, host and executive producer at ABC-7 Chicago.

Davies said she entered the field of broadcast journalism when she was in her twenties.

“There weren’t a lot of women in it (then) and I didn’t have a lot of competition.”

Davies said she’s enjoying her stage stint at Dunes Summer Arts Theatre and wouldn’t mind doing future work with the organization.

FYI: “Misery” continues through June 15 at Dunes Summer Arts Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive, Michigan City. Tickets range from $30 to $35. Visit dunearts.org.

Cover photo: Kevin Giese and Janet Davies are pictured in a scene from “Misery.” Photo by Tony V. Martin

About Eloise Marie Valadez

Guest blogger Eloise Marie Valadez, a frequent contributor to Travel/Food, is a professional journalist/writer and editor with four decades of experience covering the arts, entertainment, and culinary industries. A native of Chicago, she has a passion for the written word.

Summer Fun in the City: Chicago’s Festival Season Has Just Begun

Beaches, Chicago Neighborhoods, Chicago restaurants, Chicago River, Events, Lake Michigan, Uncategorized
  • Chicago Pride Fest (June 21-22, 2025) – Each year, more than 100,000 revelers flock to the historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Northalsted to take part in the festivities, including three stages with live music, more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, food from local restaurants, drag shows, dance performances, a high-heel race, and more. This year’s headlining artists include Natasha Bedingfield, JoJo Siwa, Sapphira Cristál, Bob the Drag Queen, Amber Riley, and more across two stages. 
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Pride Festival
  • Windy City Smokeout (July 10-13, 2025) – The nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival returns to Chicago’s iconic United Center for its 12th year. The star-studded weekend will feature country music’s biggest names, including Kane Brown, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Bailey Zimmerman, and Megan Moroney, along with an impressive roster of up-and-coming talent and over 25 of the best BBQ teams from across the country. In addition to the top performer in country music, the festival offers a selection of curated events, such as the “Biggest Happy Hour of the Summer” on Friday, July 11 and an epic “BBQ Brunch” on Sunday, July 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bottomless BBQ Brunch will include a variety of dishes from the Windy City Smokeout’s Pitmaster Buffet, featuring a special Bacon Bar. Guests can also sip on mimosas and build their own Bloody Marys with all the fixings at the Bloody Mary Bar.
Photo courtesy of Windy City Smokeout
  • Chinatown Summer Fair (July 26-27, 2025) – This iconic event is one of the most ethnically unique outdoor events in Chicago and the Midwest. Attracting more than 50,000 people from throughout the region, Chinatown Summer Fair is a true celebration of Far East beauty and culture including food, art, and music. This neighborhood street festival will open with a lion dance procession, followed by Asian performances; kung fu demonstrations; samplings from Chinatown’s restaurants and unique gift shops; arts & crafts exhibits; street vendors with an array of merchandise; and a children’s area.
Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago
  • Lollapalooza (July 31 – August 3, 2025) – One of Chicago’s most highly anticipated summer events, this genre-defying lineup is packed with the music industry’s biggest names, along with local favorites and emerging artists.The full Lollapalooza lineup features more than 170 musical acts across nine stages, with headliners such as Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, Rüfüs du Sol, Luke Combs, A$AP Rocky, Gracie Abrams and Doechii
Photo courtesy of Lollapalooza
  • Chicago Air and Water Show (August 16-17, 2025) – The Chicago Air and Water Show has been an iconic Chicago event since 1959. The annual summer spectacle is the largest and oldest free-admission air and water exhibition in the United States. The two-day event draws an audience of over one million to the city’s stunning lakefront to see pilots perform astonishing stunts above the waters of Lake Michigan.
Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago
  • Chicago House Music Festival and Conference (August 22-23, 2025) – The Chicago House Music Festival is an annual celebration of the Chicago-born genre that has revolutionized dance music globally. Held in Millennium Park every summer, this joyous event attracts house fans from across the globe to hear today’s top DJs and up-and-coming talent.
  • Chicago Jazz Festival (August 28-31, 2025) – The Chicago Jazz Festival is a Labor Day weekend tradition that promotes all forms of jazz through free, high-quality music programming at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park. The festival showcases Chicago’s local talent alongside national and international artists to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city’s most beloved art forms.

Is this small Arizona town the next Napa? Source: Phoenix New Times

winery

Is this small Arizona town the next Napa? Source: Phoenix New Times https://share.newsbreak.com/deeyfbk8

NYTimes: The 22 Best Pizza Places in New York Right Now

Pizza

The 22 Best Pizza Places in New York Right Now https://www.nytimes.com/article/best-nyc-pizza-pizzeria.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

Introducing Hotel Bourré Bonne: Just Steps From Whiskey Row

Hotels, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Louisville, Uncategorized

Luxury hotel offers rooftop views, elegance & Southern charm

Hotel Bourré Bonne officially opened its doors at 143 W. Market St. this month.  The $75 million, five-story hotel features 168 rooms and two upmarket restaurants, Steakhouse Bourré Bonne and the Rooftop Bourré Bonne bar and restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Bourré Bonne

The hotel, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, is a luxurious new addition to Louisville’s hospitality scene, designed to reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant future. Guests can enjoy elevated guestrooms, over 11,000 square feet of flexible ballroom space with sweeping city views, an indoor/outdoor bar and lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a juice bar, and two standout dining venues operated by Bellé Noble Entertainment Group.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Bourré Bonne

The ground-floor luxury-style restaurant, Steakhouse Bourré Bonne, brings to life the rich heritage of Kentucky cuisine with a modern twist by featuring French-inspired cuisine and an extensive bourbon and wine list. Several private dining options are available, along with an Hérmes-inspired booth.

Rooftop Bourré Bonne offers a more casual indoor-outdoor setting with panoramic views adjacent to the outdoor pool and bar.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Bourré Bonne

Louisville is a city that blends authentic history with a new Southern twist. Also known as Bourbon City, and for good reason. With over two dozen bourbon experiences and tasting rooms, with several a few steps away from Hotel Bourré Bonne. Bourbon City’s newest attractions include Bob Dylan’s The Last Refuge, Whiskey Thief Tasting Room, Pursuit Spirts and Monk’s Road Boiler House by Log Still Distillery.

The Last Refuge. Photo courtesy of Go to Louisville

Still to come in 2025, the city will welcome a second location by Pursuit Spirits, Green River Distilling Tasting Room and The Piggy Bank, a tasting room by the WhistlePig brand. From historic distilleries to contemporary bourbon bars, Louisville invites guests to explore the craftsmanship and heritage that celebrates America’s only native spirit.

Following in Bourbon’s footsteps, Bluegrass music was born in Kentucky, deriving from the hills of Appalachia and raised on acoustic instruments and rich traditions. Louisville’s spin on today’s Bluegrass has been coined ‘LouGrass’ and the city offers free, live LouGrass performances every weekend April through October at a variety of venues, hotels, restaurants and neighborhoods. For a schedule of weekly performances, festivals and special events, visit lougrassmusic.com.

While planning a trip to Louisville, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city’s top attractions and bourbon distilleries. Visitors also can get additional city attraction, lodging and dining assistance at gotolouisville.com.

Celebrate Louisville’s Official Cocktail for a Fortnight

Black History, Black History Travel, Kentucky Bourbon Classic, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Louisville, Uncategorized

Bourbon City commemorates its signature drink culminating on National Bourbon Day

Set down your Mint Julep, because it’s time to celebrate Louisville’s official cocktail, the Old Fashioned. Proclaimed the city’s official cocktail in 2015 by former Mayor Greg Fischer, Old Fashioned Fortnight highlights the posh and stately Pendennis Club’s original during the first two weeks of June via events, tastings, and specials. Kicking off on June 1, the anniversary of Kentucky’s statehood, and culminating on National Bourbon Day, June 14, the fortnight of festivities underscores Louisville’s whiskey history and booming bourbon culture.

Photo courtesy of Go to Louisville.

Here are some ways to participate in Old Fashioned Fortnight June 1-14:

  • Craft Your Own Cocktail at the Frazier History Museum: The Frazier History Museum and Old Forester are teaming up to showcase Louisville’s official cocktail, the Old Fashioned. Led by Certified Bourbon Stewards, this unique experience guides visitors through making a traditional Old Fashioned with a unique twist while providing some fascinating history about the locally invented libation. Classes are for Bourbon beginners and aficionados alike and can be booked Monday-Saturday, online here.
Photo courtesy of Old Forrester.

  • The Ideal Bartender Experience: Head to Evan Williams Bourbon Experience’s secret Speakeasy as an actor portraying Louisville native Tom Bullock takes you back in time to the prohibition era for a guided Bourbon tasting. Bullock was the first Black American to write and publish a cocktail book and tended bar at the Pendennis Club, where the Old Fashioned was purported to be invented. Book tours online. 
Photo courtesy of gotolouisville.com
  • Urban Bourbon Trail®: Download the Urban Bourbon Trail® digital passport and visit some of Louisville’s best local Bourbon bars and restaurants, all of which offer their own twist on the Old Fashioned cocktail. Bourbon enthusiasts who check in at six locations will earn a free T-shirt. Visit gotolouisville.com for more information.
Photo courtesy of gotolouisville.com
  • Barrels & Billets: One of Main Street’s newest Whiskey experiences takes place just next door to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, where you can embark on your custom bourbon experience. Sample up to six different flavor profiles and build your own customized bottle of whiskey suited to your personal taste. If you love your newly created concoction, you can purchase your own bottle after the experience. Find tour times here.  
Photo courtesy of The Barrel: Bourbon & Bites Food Tour.
  • Beyond The Barrel: Bourbon & Bites Food Tour: Uncover the secrets of Kentucky bourbon and go beyond the barrel to dive into bourbon’s unfiltered history – and learn all the stories they won’t tell you on a Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery tour. As the sun sets over the vibrant NuLu neighborhood, you’ll visit award-winning restaurants, hidden speakeasies, rooftop terraces, and cozy tasting rooms, Find available dates here.

For additional ways to celebrate Old Fashioned Fortnight, a more detailed history of Tom Bullock, and recipes on how to create the cocktail visit OldFashionedFortnight.com.

Guests can use Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city’s top attractions, culinary hotspots, and bourbon distilleries. Travelers also can learn about attractions, lodging and where to dine at gotolouisville.com.

History of the Old Fashioned

Heaven Hill Distillery Old-Fashioned Cocktail. Photo courtesy of Heaven Hill Distillery.


The Pendennis Club in downtown Louisville has long claimed the invention of the Old Fashioned cocktail since the 1880s. Club member and bourbon distiller popularized it, Col. James E. Pepper, who would go on to introduce the cocktail to the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, leading to its widespread popularity. Louisville native and pre-Prohibition mixologist Tom Bullock included his original Old Fashioned recipe in the preeminent cocktail book, “The Ideal Bartender,” published in 1917.

Classic Old Fashioned

Ingredients

Instructions

Enjoy the Classic Old Fashioned cocktail by Old Forester. From scratch classic build of sugar, bitters, bourbon, stirred to perfection.

Stir with ice, strain into double old-fashioned glass with fresh ice. Garnish with wide orange peel, oils expressed over the cocktail.

Taste New and Returning Culinary Delights at Dollywood This Spring

Adventure, Dollywood, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, Historic foodways, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Tennessee Mountain Home, Uncategorized

 Dolly Parton’s East Tennessee theme park, Dollywood is recognized for its live entertainment, world-class rides, incredible guest service, and tributes to the traditions and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains. As part of that commitment to heritage, the park showcases Southern and Appalachian cuisine. Instead of simply offering traditional amusement park fare, Dollywood makes an extra effort to serve high-quality options that range from family-style comfort foods to unique items created especially for its various seasonal festivals. As part of its ongoing commitment to bringing guests the best dining experiences, Dollywood has debuted a new restaurant this spring for its 40th anniversary season. Guests can feast on their favorites and try the new offerings as well.

Guests who visit the park during Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival from now through June 8 can indulge in Southern-inspired springtime foods that can be enjoyed individually or by using the Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass. Those with the tasting pass can sample up to five festival items, including new creations like loaded street fries, pesto caprese paninis, Smoky Mountain grilled corn, blueberry pie milkshakes, wild berry cream cheese funnel cakes and a Salad of Many Colors (named for Dolly’s beloved song, “Coat of Many Colors”). The pass can be purchased in the park or online for $42.99 plus tax.

Dollywood will introduce its newest dining venue, Wilderness Pass Restaurant, during the festival. Opening in early May, the restaurant is set to serve a variety of smoked meats along with Southern classics like hush puppies and mac and cheese. Wilderness Pass will also debut a brand-new menu item for the park: rotisserie chicken. The restaurant, which features both indoor and patio seating, can accommodate 400 people and will allow guests to order their food in line before choosing their table.

Dollywood has also become famous for some iconic foods that are offered all season long. For generations, park-goers have flocked to the Grist Mill to devour Dollywood’s world-famous cinnamon bread, which can be enjoyed “naked” or with a side of icing and/or apple butter. The theme park’s original restaurant, Aunt Granny’s (named for what Dolly’s nieces and nephews call her), is consistently named among the best theme park restaurants in the country and serves Southern favorites like fried chicken and pot roast. Spotlight Bakery, located right near the park’s entrance and exit – making it a great first or last stop of the day – provides an array of desserts, including a 25-pound apple pie that’s baked in a specially made, huge cast-iron skillet.

Dollywood’s culinary team acknowledges the food allergies and avoidances that park guests have. With that in mind, they developed a Start Fresh program that ensures vegetarian and gluten-free items are available throughout the park. And when guests inform the culinary team about food sensitivities or allergies, the team ensures that foods are prepared without any cross-contamination.

For more information about Dollywood’s culinary offerings and to plan a trip during its 40th anniversary season, please visit Dollywood.com.

About Dollywood Parks & Resorts

A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts – which celebrates its 40th anniversary season in 2025 – consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and two award-winning resort properties: Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 64 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment.

The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions.

Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to mid-September.

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit Dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

All photos courtesy of The Dollywood Company.

‘Modern Mother Goose’ at Munster’s Theatre at the Center

Uncategorized

By Guest Blogger by Eloise Marie Valadez

An innovative collection of fairytales is enlivening the stage at Munster’s Theatre at the Center. “Modern Mother Goose,” written and directed by the very talented Philip Potempa, continues to May 24 at the theater.

The production is a world premiere featuring a blend of popular characters and tales with a twist for the new generation of young theatergoers. In the show, audiences will follow the stories of characters such as Little Boy Blue, The Giant, Little Miss Muffet, The Prince, Humpty Dumpty, a menacing spider and others.

Starring in the show are Tony Panek, Dave Innes, Rob Aguirre, Catherine Dilworth, Cara Schmitt, Caleb Perez, Phil Potempa and Carolyn Kruszynski, who portrays Mother Goose or “Buscia” Goose. Kruszynski has long portrayed one of the famous Buscias at Whiting’s Pierogi Fest.

The play, which runs 55 minutes, is set in Storybook Land. Young theatergoers learn a variety of life lessons through each of the stories that unfold on stage.

Kruszynski said she and her fellow cast members have “had a great time” bringing “Modern Mother Goose” to life on stage.

“The show is designed for kids, but there are enough jokes for adults (to enjoy),” Kruszynski said.

For Schmitt, who portrays Sleepy Princess Prudence,  it’s been great fun working on the production.

“It’s also a great way to bring joy to the community,” Schmitt said about the show.

FYI: “Modern Mother Goose” continues through May 24 at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Tickets are $10. Visit TheatreattheCenter.com.

About Eloise Marie Valadez

Guest blogger Eloise Marie Valadez, a frequent contributor to Travel/Food, is a professional journalist/writer and editor with four decades of experience covering the arts, entertainment, and culinary industries. A native of Chicago, she has a passion for the written word.

Photo and YouTube Video courtesy of Theatre at the Center and Phil Potempa.

Celebrate Summer at Journeyman Distillery

Distilleries, Family & Kids Cooking, Journeyman Distillery, Kids' cooking classes, Uncategorized, Whiskey

The team at Journeyman, the award-winning craft distillery based in Three Oaks, Michigan, and Valparaiso, Indiana, have been busy planning some super fun events ranging from a free-to-attend children’s camp, a bartending competition featuring some of Harbor Country’s top drinks pros, a chef-driven rooftop dinner, and much more.

SUMMER MUSIC LIVE SERIES

WHERE: The American Factory, 258 South Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385

DATE: Every Friday beginning June 6th

TIME: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. CT  

PRICE: Free to attend

DETAILS: Journeyman’s free summer music series is back for its second year at the American Factory. Every Friday through August, head to the courtyard with the whole family and soak up live music from local artists under the sky. Make it a full evening with dinner and drinks at Union Hall restaurant. More information can be found here. 

DIRTY BOOTS LINE DANCING COUNTRY NIGHT 

WHERE: The American Factory, 258 South Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385

DATE: Saturday, June 7

TIME: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. CT, doors open at 6:30 p.m. CT

PRICE: $25/person, must be 21+

TICKETS: Available here 

DETAILS: Journeyman’s Dirty Boots Night is back at the American Factory for an evening of live music, dancing, and unapologetically Southern energy. Pull on your cowboy boots and brush up on footwork with line dance lessons from Fred Astaire Dance Studios—all set to live country tunes from Steel Country. Tickets are $25 per person and include access to the event, line dancing lessons, and a welcome cocktail to kick off the night. Additional drink tickets will be available for purchase in advance and on-site. Must be 21 or older to attend. 

BARCRAFT COMPETITION 

WHERE: The Featherbone Factory, 109 Generations Dr. Three Oaks, MI 49128 

DATE: Tuesday, June 10

TIME: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET 

PRICE: $50/person, must be 21+

TICKETS: Available here

DETAILS: Calling all cocktail enthusiasts! Journeyman Distillery is bringing together some of the most creative bartending pros from across the Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana regions for its first annual Barcraft Competition. Each bartender will present an original cocktail creation that showcases their unique craft and personality, and guests will be invited to cast their votes for who should take home the title of Best Bartender. 

The winner will receive a donation to a charity of their choice. Tickets are $50 each and include cocktail samples, food, and a ballot to help decide the winner. Must be 21+ to attend. 

FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH

WHERE: The Featherbone Factory, 109 Generations Dr. Three Oaks, MI 49128 AND The American Factory, 258 South Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385

DATE: Sunday, June 15

TIME: Three Oaks: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET, Valparaiso: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT

PRICE: $45 for adults, $20 for children 3-12, free for children under 3

RESERVATIONS: Three Oaks reservations here, Valparaiso reservations here

DETAILS: Toast Dad with fine whiskey and delicious breakfast favorites at Journeyman’s Father’s Day brunch! Taking place at both locations, the team is whipping up a brunch spread complete with a carving station featuring meaty offerings like prime rib, OCG roast turkey breast, and baby back ribs served with Journeyman’s bourbon BBQ sauce. Guests can also look forward to a buffet of comforting classics, including biscuits and pork sausage gravy, French toast, scrambled eggs, cinnamon sugar donut holes, and more. To help the adults unwind, a selection of craft cocktails made with Journeyman’s artisanal spirits will be available for purchase by the glass or by the pitcher.

CHEF’S DINNER: CHAR No. 3 

WHERE: The American Factory, 258 South Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385

DATE: Sunday, June 21st 

TIME: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. CT 

PRICE: $125/person, must be 21+ 

TICKETS: Available here

DETAILS: Back for its second year in 2025, Journeyman’s rooftop dining experience is returning to the American Factory this summer. Executive Chef Amanda Salas and her team are preparing a four-course dinner centered around smoked flavors, paired with cocktails and whiskey, perfect for enjoying in an open-air setting at dusk. Expect dishes like smoked pork shoulder with bourbon berry barbecue sauce, roasted salmon with barbecue baked lentils and pickled green beans, charred asparagus with piquillo pepper relish, and more. The full menu and ticketing information can be found here. 

JOURNEYMAN’S KIDS CLUB

WHERE: The American Factory, 258 South Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385

DATE: Every Wednesday beginning June 25th 

TIME: 11 a.m. – noon CT 

PRICE: Free to attend, reservations required 

DETAILS: Calling all parents with kiddos! Journeyman’s free-to-attend Kid’s Club is back this summer at the American Factory. Every Wednesday at 11 a.m., kids can participate in a new, fun and creative one-hour activity. The full lineup of activities will be announced soon, and reservations are required. More information can be found here. 

Celebrate the Tradition: The Indiana Wine Fair Saturday, May 31st

Nashville, Indiana, Story, Indiana, winery

The definition of a good wine is as simple as this: Do you like it well enough to pour another glass?

Let us help you find your favorite at the Indiana Wine Fair, a day-long event in historic Story, Indiana. Sample the best of Indiana’s wines while enjoying live music and perusing the arts and crafts of Hoosier and regional artisans and the offerings of local food vendors.  

Photo by Kendal Miller.

Featured wineries offer 1-oz samples but also sell glass pours, merch, and bottles for carry out.  Some wineries claim to sell so much to become unable to open their own shops until their inventory is replenished. 

That’s why it’s a privilege to continue the tradition, as experts tell us the event is directly responsible for the market growth of Indiana wines. 

Photo by Kendal Miller.

Support your local vintners and seize the opportunity to build your wine cellar!

Story is thrilled to announce the return and participation of:
Carousel Winery – Mitchell, Indiana
Huber’s Orchard, Wine & Vineyard – Borden, Indiana
Winzerwald Winery – Bristow, Indiana
Holtkamp Winery – New Alsace, Indiana

Photo by Kendal Miller.


Easley Winery – Indianapolis, Indiana
Ertel Cellars – Batesville, Indiana
The Rejoicing Vine Winery – Indianapolis, Indiana

Photo by Kendal Miller.

And more wineries:
Oliver Winery – Bloomington, Indiana
Harmony Winery – Knightstown, Indiana

Photo by Jane Simon Ammeson

Lost in the Woods Meadery – Gosport, Indiana
Range 46 Wine Co – Nashville, Indiana
Salt Creek Winery – Freetown, Indiana

And more to be announced.

Photo Jane Simon Ammeson

Each guest receives a Story Inn keepsake wine glass, tote bag, and sample pours all afternoon.  $30 presale tickets and more information are available at Indianwinefair.com

Free Shuttle Service and Free Parking

Photo by Kendal Miller.

Free parking is available at Story.  Free parking with free shuttle service is also available at Range 46 Wine Co in Gnaw Bone, with pickup/drop off at the Brown County CVB on Washington Street in Nashville. Shuttles run from 11am – 8pm.

Trust us, this is so true: Indiana Wines Rock

Photo Jane Simon Ammeson
Contrary to popular belief, wine is not only made in California or France.  In blind tastings, Indiana wines compete with the best because of our diverse geographic regions, climate, and soils.  
Decades ago, Purdue University genetically engineered grapes to thrive in harder clay soils, which have found root on the Story hillside.  Tour the orchard, vineyard, and nature trail on your next visit!

Stay Late and Laugh

Indiana Wine Fair 12-6pm; Comedy Show 8:30-10pm

Wine Fair guests receive admission to the monthly comedy show Saturday May 31 evening from 8:30-10pm.  Enjoy the afternoon wine, live music, and support local arts, crafts, and food vendors.  Plan to stay for the evening comedy show/fundraiser sponsored by 812 Farms.
Indiana Wine Fair founder Rick Hofstetter (on left) and friends. Photo Jane Simon Ammeson.