On the road and at home, it's always about food and fun!
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/
Just because August is almost here, doesn’t mean the summer fun needs to slow down. Award-winning Journeyman Distillery is turning up the heat with some can’t-miss events this month, like Island Night at the Featherbone Factory in Three Oaks, MI, and Dirty Boots Night at The American Factory in Valparaiso, IN. Whether you’re drawn to fire dancers and tropical cocktails or steel guitars and line dancing lessons, there’s something worth putting on the calendar.
WHERE: Welter’s Folly, 109 Generations Dr, Three Oaks, MI 49128
TIME: 8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET
ADMISSION: $9 Adult Day Pass, Kids 12 & under golf free | More DetailsDETAILS: Welter’s Folly lights up after dark for Glow Putt Nights ONE LAST TIME this season. From dusk to close, the green becomes a glowing playground for late-night putting with a laid-back vibe. Whether you are aiming for precision or just enjoying the summer air with a stiff drink, it’s a glowing way to spend a summer evening.
Island Night at the Featherbone Factory
DATE: Friday, August 16
WHERE: The Featherbone Factory, 109 Generations Dr, Three Oaks, MI 49128
DETAILS: Island Night is bringing a taste of the island life to Three Oaks. As the sun sets, the Featherbone Factory will glow with tiki torches and tropical flair. Expect a Polynesian-inspired buffet featuring island dishes, including soy-ginger pork shoulder, soba noodle salad, and coconut rice, as well as handcrafted tiki cocktails. The evening will also feature vibrant performances, including live hula dancing and a fire show. It’s a dreamy event that captures the laid-back magic of summer nights in Harbor Country with a fun island twist. Tropical attire encouraged!
Dirty Boots Night at the American Factory
DATE: Friday, August 23
WHERE: The American Factory, 258 S Campbell St, Valparaiso, IN 46385
DETAILS: Dust off your boots because Dirty Boots Night is back! This high-energy evening kicks off with line dancing lessons from Fred Astaire Dance Studios, followed by live music from Steel Country and plenty of room to two-step. Your ticket includes a welcome cocktail, and the cash bar will be open all night. For a full dinner experience, grab a table at Union Hall before the music starts.
Summer Music Live
DATE: Every Wednesday and Friday
WHERE: The American Factory, 258 S Campbell St, Valparaiso, IN 46385
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CT
ADMISSION: Free Event
DETAILS: Back for its second year, Journeyman is continuing to host their free summer music series every Wednesday and Friday night on the courtyard stage at the American Factory in Valpo, IN. Bring the family for the last month of this series for the season, enjoy lawn games, and soak in the live music under the summer sky. Want to make a night of it? Reserve a table for dinner at Union Hall. Check out the lineup HERE.
If you’d like to take a trip back in time, secure a ticket to Marriott Theatre’s “Always Something There.”
The world premiere jukebox musical, written by Sandy Rustin, continues through Aug. 10 at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. This lively show is part of Marriott Theatre’s 50th anniversary season.
“Always Something There” tells the story of Samantha Craig, who wakes up at the beginning of her 45th year in her 18-year-old teen body and is given the opportunity to change her life, take different paths and make different choices if she chooses.
The story unfolds amidst a musical backdrop of songs from the 1980s. Heidi Kettenring portrays adult Samantha while Christina Priestner stars as teen Samantha. Both actors provide strong performances with both displaying powerful vocals. Also starring in the show are Marina Jansen as Camelia, Ian Coursey as Cooper, Ty Shay as Johnny, Matthew Hommel as Winston and others.
“Always Something There,” which is directed by James Vasquez, features choreography by Tyler Hanes. Among highlighted musical numbers are “Only In My Dreams,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “Talk to Me,” “We Got the Beat” and more.
In conjunction with the play, Marriott Theatre is presenting a special pop-up dining experience at its Three Embers Restaurant. The menu for the Back to the Grill experience stars items such as Loco-Motion Taco Salad, Shattered Onion Soup, We Got the Bleu (Chicken Cordon Bleu) and Always Something Braised (Pulled Lamb Shank).
For more information on the show and special menu, visit MarriottTheatre.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.
Annual Awards Program Recognizes the World’s Best Wine Lists— Special ‘Restaurant Awards’ Issue Highlights Revitalization of Steak Houses, Aged Wines for Today’s Generation
Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, has unveiled the winners of the 2025 Restaurant Awards, which honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. This year’s awards program recognizes 3,811 dining destinations from all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 80 countries internationally.
Photo courtesy of Soby’s.
“A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “I proudly present the 3,811 restaurants worldwide that earned a Restaurant Award this year—we raise a glass to all our winners.”
Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award, with 2,010; 1,704; and 97 winners this year in each respective category.
Photo courtesy of Le Bon Georges
This year, Wine Spectator has granted three new Grand Awards: Selby’s in Atherton, CA, Soby’s in Greenville, SC and Le Bon Georges in Paris, France. The Restaurant Awards issue includes exclusive profiles on each winner and the talent behind each of the wine collections that earned them this honor.
Photo courtesy of El Che.
Also featured in Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue: “What’s Old is New Again,” as restaurants place an emphasis on revisiting and uplifting tried and true classics.
Salle à Manger. Photo courtesy of the Grand Hotel.
The Restaurant Awards issue, which features a tribute to late Grand Award-winning American chef and restaurateur Charlie Trotter, becomes available to readers July 15th.
Follow Wine Spectator on Instagram (@wine_spectator) and use the hashtag #WSRestaurantAwards for posts about this year’s awards.
Photo courtesy of Cascade Prime Steak and Seafood.
WineSpectator.com/Restaurants also features coverage of winners, interviews with leading wine directors, wine picks and pairing tips from sommeliers at award-winning programs. In the Restaurant Search, all winners can be searched by name, location, award level, cuisine, wine specialties and pricing. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users.
Photo courtesy of Cafe Monarch.
About Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’sImpact Newsletter.
An extraordinary new chapter in Chinese cuisine arrives on the Lower East Side. Blue Peak Villa, located at 200 Allen Street, opens this May, introducing New Yorkers to rare and regionally inspired Chinese dishes deeply rooted in a culinary lineage that dates back to the Qing Dynasty.
Led by Executive Chef Jian Wu, whose family cooked for Empress Dowager Cixi, Blue Peak Villa offers a dining experience where the forgotten flavors of China’s past are revived with modern elegance. The restaurant occupies the lower level of a two-floor concept, while the street-level space, Zhong Guo Xiao Long Bao, delivers everyday Chinese comfort foods crafted with the same masterful techniques.
At Blue Peak Villa, diners encounter a menu unlike anything else in New York — a curated journey through China’s mountainous landscapes and river valleys.
Signature dishes include:
Golden Egg in Cast Iron Pot: A theatrical dish with roots over a century old, updated with premium ingredients and finished with a dramatic flame tableside.
Caramelized Pork Ribs with Black Vinegar: Featuring an unexpected rice-based “cheese pull,” nodding to traditional textures while surprising the palate.
Blue Peak Signature Fish: Delicate fillets stir-fried with egg directly at the table, creating a bone-free, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Kweichow Sour Soup with Beef: A bold, palate-awakening dish featuring tender beef and a rare variety of intensely sour tomatoes native to the Guiyang region.
Yunnan Style Chicken: Aromatic, spicy, and served with silky mashed potatoes for an earthy, rich flavor.
Corn Ice Cream: A playful dessert layering sweet corn, fine bread shreds, and creamy ice cream.
Inspired by the natural beauty of China’s mountains and rivers, Blue Peak Villa’s atmosphere is intimate and elegant, blending natural materials with a contemporary aesthetic. The dining mood is best captured in three words: warm, adventurous, refined.
Chef Wu’s journey spans decades of study across China’s regions, distilling local techniques and traditions into a menu that balances authenticity with invention. His craftsmanship, passed down through generations, brings an unmatched depth to every dish.
Just upstairs, Zhong Guo Xiao Long Bao invites diners to enjoy freshly wrapped soup dumplings, spicy wontons, and signature noodle dishes — all priced around $10, making masterfully crafted Chinese cuisine accessible to all.
Blue Peak Villa is now accepting walk-ins and Resy reservations. Follow along at @bluepeakvilla.nyc for opening updates.
Choose Chicago today announced the launch of a new marketing campaign to position Chicago as a premier global destination for leisure travel, meetings, and events. The new“Never Done. Never Outdone.” campaign was informed and influenced by a year-plus long brand strategy effort consisting of over 300 community and industry listening sessions, focus groups, sentiment surveys, social listening research, and brand showcases.
“Never Done. Never Outdone.” honors the spirit of our city—always evolving, always pushing forward, and never satisfied with the status quo. The campaign launches during peak season and as Chicago prepares to host the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2025, the largest inbound international travel trade show in the country. With $5.5 billion of future travel booked across this four-day show, this is Chicago’s moment to tell our story to the global tourism community.
“I could not be more proud to launch Choose Chicago’s new marketing campaign: ‘Never Done. Never Outdone.’” said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “This message is steeped in community and stakeholder feedback and speaks to the continued evolution of our city and our new era of visitor, business and economic domination. I’m grateful for the time and dedication that my team took to listen to our residents, local businesses, and clients and I’m confident that the result will be a campaign that resonates with visitors and locals alike to drive economic vitality through every Chicago neighborhood.”
“From world-class dining, to beautiful lakefront views, to vibrant neighborhoods ready to explore, Chicago is an ideal destination for visitors from all across the world,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Choose Chicago’s new ‘Never Done. Never Outdone.’ campaign is a true testament to all our city has to offer. This new effort will support our already thriving tourism economy, all while supporting countless jobs in cultural, culinary, and hospitality industries across the State of Illinois.”
“I am proud of the work our colleagues at Choose Chicago have done in developing this new campaign,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Work like this can only be born out of meaningful collaboration and engagement, and they’ve taken great care to include the perspectives of a diverse cross-section of community voices in the research that went into the campaign. I’m confident it will ultimately share an authentic depiction of our city and convey the open-minded, welcoming spirit of Chicagoans.”
(C) Eric Allix Rogers
“Never Done. Never Outdone.” is a campaign unlike any other Choose Chicago has launched in the past. Unlike previous campaigns, which focused primarily on attracting leisure travelers, this campaign is designed to speak to and inspire all audiences, including potential leisure visitors as well as meeting and event planners, the creative community, international sports fans, the economic development community, and most importantly, Chicago residents.
Courtesy of the Driehaus Museum
“‘Never Done. Never Done.’ reflects a mindset that’s deeply original, bold, open-minded, and grounded in community — values that are central to who we are and how we show up,” said Lisa Nucci, Chief Marketing Officer at Choose Chicago. “As a life-long Chicagoan, it has been an honor to work on this project and inspiring to see the way our partners in the tourism and hospitality industry and the civic sector have been so involved and invested from day one. Through hundreds of hours of listening sessions, preview events, and informal conversations, one thing was consistently apparent to me: Chicagoans truly love their city. That love and civic pride is really at the heart of ‘Never Done. Never Outdone.’”
(C) Eric Allix Rogers
Launching locally today, the “Never Done. Never Outdone.” campaign will make its international debut next week at IPW. Today’s launch includes the release of a campaign video featuring Grammy- Award winning poet and artist and local Chicagoan J. Ivy. The campaign will run in key local, regional, national, and international markets, targeting both leisure travelers and meeting and event planners. Advertising will begin locally to build campaign engagement and civic pride, then expand to other markets to help drive future leisure and business travel to Chicago.
“I can’t imagine a better note to end my tenure on than the launch of a new marketing campaign for Chicago,” said Glenn Eden, Choose Chicago’s outgoing Board Chair. “‘Never Done. Never Outdone.’ is so much more than an ad campaign; it is a testament to Chicagoans’ love for their city—to the people and communities that give our food its flavor and make our neighborhoods come to life. I couldn’t be prouder of the work the team has put into this important initiative, and I know it will help introduce our city to millions of future visitors from around the world.”
Chicago residents can expect to see “Never Done. Never Outdone.” advertisements on city information panels and highlighted in social media activations in the coming weeks. Nationally, Choose Chicago prioritizes ad placements based on historical seasonal demand from top inbound leisure markets, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City. Internationally, ad placements and spend will also be primarily allocated to key leisure markets based on demand, including Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Choose Chicago will continue to engage members and community partners in the campaign efforts to infuse reasons why Chicago is “Never Done. Never Outdone.” into content and events.
Choose Chicago collaborated with a creative collection of agencies for the brand and campaign work including MMGY Global, Envisionit (digital and creative partner), Agents of Slang (creative partner), October Productions (production partner), Word and Soul (creative partner), and Chu Batsaihan (creative partner).
Eric Allix Rogers
About Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global tourism and meetings destination—the city that’s Never Done and Never Outdone. Choose Chicago leverages the city’s unmatched assets to enrich the community by attracting meetings, events, and leisure visitors, helping to attract over 55 million visitors annually and generating $20 billion in economic impact. Follow @choosechicago and tag #neverdonechi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com
Lemon Creek Winery, established in 1834, is a multi-generational family farm and winery at 533 E Lemon Creek Road, Berrien Springs, Michigan. 269-471-1321. They will be pairing their wines with classic restaurants mentioned in my book. It’s a cool idea, I wish I could claim it as my own. But alas, no.
First Fridays Glow Putt Nights
Summer Music Live
