Take me out to the ball game!

Nothing gets my blood pumping quite like the excitement of a baseball game.  I especially enjoy watching the Richmond RiverRats play.  It’s very convenient to have a baseball team in my own town!  I love being able to just get in my car and go to the historic McBride Stadium.  The stadium, which opened in 1936, is a small, yet intimate setting.  Once there, I grab my hot dog and some peanuts, find my seat, get settled for a fun-filled evening. 

I’m not a baseball expert by any means; I don’t know all of the baseball lingo.  However, that doesn’t stop me from getting into the game!  By the start of the second inning, I’m yelling at the umpires and cheering on my favorite players! 

 

This is a favorite outing for my family.  It is a low-expense way to spend time together and doesn’t require a lot of planning.  I’m sure it would be a favorite for your family as well! 

A regular reserved seat is $5; but, you can upgrade to a box seat for just $7!  I personally prefer the box seats, that way I can see the game up close!  If you’re budget conscious, then enjoy $2 Tuesdays, where seats are reduced by $2!  Check out their schedule at richmondriverrats.com!

Whether you’re a baseball junkie who knows it all or you just know the basics, you’re sure to love watching our RiverRats!  

Brooke is a junior at Indiana University East, studying Nursing. She works at Reid Hospital & Health Care Services in the Food & Nutrition Department; and, also at the Richmond/Wayne County Tourism Bureau.  She enjoys spending time with friends and family and exploring the great outdoors.   

Grab the gals and plan your getaway

By Amy Lynch

Girls just want to have fun, and a “Just Us Girls” packaged trip in Richmond and Wayne County offers a perfect opportunity to do just that.

In addition to the fabulous food, great shopping venues, and array of discount coupons and freebies my friends and I enjoyed as part of the package, the highlight of my recent Just Us Girls trip was an overnight stay at the Historic Lantz House Inn in Centerville.

Daniel Lantz, a wagon maker, originally constructed the handsome brick Federal-style home along the Old National Road (now U.S. 40) in the early 1800s. The property takes in three separate buildings connected by a graceful arch, a distinctive architectural detail common to Centerville during that era.

These days, the Lantz House is owned and operated by Marcia Hoyt, a Richmond native who returned to the area in 1992 after a period of time living in Oregon. Marcia spent two years lovingly restoring the historic property before opening its doors to the public as an inn in 1994. Since then, Marcia’s dedicated efforts have garnered plenty of attention and media recognition, including an appearance on the cover of Midwest Living magazine in December 1996.

From the moment we stepped through the door for our Just Us Girls stay, we felt comfortable and comforted. A cozy fire burned in the sitting room, beckoning us to sit down and relax for a little while before Marcia showed us to our rooms. Throughout the home, the furnishings are an eclectic but tasteful mix of antique, traditional and contemporary items.

Upstairs are four spacious bedrooms (Just Us Girls package rates run from $87 to $155.95/person per night plus tax), along with a common area where guests can sit to read or watch television. The bedrooms are outfitted in simple and elegant Shaker-style beds, and each includes its own en-suite bathroom.

After a very restful night’s sleep in our peaceful surroundings, we feasted on the sumptuous breakfast Marcia prepared – fresh fruit with a tangy orange yogurt sauce, her signature soufflé-like lemon ricotta pancakes with sausage links, and all the coffee we could drink. After our leisurely meal, we had to reluctantly admit it was time to pack up, check out, and get on with the rest of our Just Us Girls getaway, although we all agreed we could easily have spent the entire weekend just relaxing at the Lantz House and been perfectly happy about it.

Before heading out, we strolled through Marcia’s stunning gardens. Her gardens alone are worth a visit to the Lantz House. Full of native bushes, trees and perennials, the verdant green space is home to hostas, wildflowers and a majestic century-old gingko tree — all provide a beautiful backdrop for weddings, events or just a quiet afternoon in the sun. I guess we’ll just have to plan to make a return trip…

The Lantz House is just one option amid a variety of local Just Us Girls accommodations. Each package also includes a packet for each guest full of wonderful coupons, freebies, discounts and store credits to use at local businesses like Warm Glow Candle Outlet, the Secret Ingredient and J&J Winery. Whatever your tastes, intentions and budget, there’s a Just Us Girls trip out there that’s sure to be an ideal fit. And if not, the Richmond-Wayne County Indiana Visitor’s Bureau can customize an adventure just for you.

For more information, contact the Richmond-Wayne County Indiana Visitor’s Bureau at (765) 935-8687 or toll-free at 1-800-828-8414, or go to http://www.visitrichmond.org//.

Freelance writer Amy Lynch was born and raised in Richmond, later graduating from Indiana University with a double major in journalism and English. She currently lives in Indianapolis where she writes for several local and regional magazines in addition to maintaining her own food and travel blog at http://www.amysfoodflights.wordpress.com./

Burn Baby Burn - Firehouse BBQ & Blues

Burn baby burn by amylynch

When I was in high school and college, it was a summertime Richmond tradition to cruise by the fire station on South A Street and wave to the cute firemen hanging out on the bench by the street.

I'm happy to report there’s a new place in town to ogle some cute firemen, and eat some darn good food at the same time. Local firefighters Rick Bolen and Tom Broyles teamed up to open Firehouse BBQ and Blues in the Historic Depot District last January, a labor of love two years in the making.

Inside Firehouse BBQ & Blues, Richmond

This hopping new restaurant/live music venue is located in what was Richmond’s first fire station back in the 1800s, and Rick and Tom have kept much of the building’s original architecture intact; the dining room sits where horses were once stabled to pull fire “trucks” in days of old. Make sure to take a gander at the incredibly detailed murals while you're here; the one on the exterior side of the building is so lifelike, you might actually think it’s on fire at first glance.

Firehouse BBQ & Blues in Richmond's Historic Depot District

By the way, Rick and Tom recently made an appearance on Indy Style, where they prepared mouthwatering brisket and pulled pork that definitely whetted my appetite prior to my visit. These guys will crack. You. Up. (Watch them “smack the butt” around the 0:49 mark: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/indy_style/kitchen/firehouse-bbq-and-blues)

Let me get back to the food – this is some tasty, down-home-style ‘cue. Definitely the best in Richmond. My friends and I started our meal with the BBQ Nachos, a messy and delicious plate of tortilla chips loaded up with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, baked beans (!), cheese, onions and jalapenos. You could make a meal of this dish on its own.

BBQ Nachos - mmmmmm...

Dinner choices come with two sides and a jalapeno corn muffin and include all of barbecue’s greatest hits:  pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, baby back ribs, and a somewhat intimidating concoction called “The Smokin’ Hog." Take a smoked sausage, slice it and put it on a bun, pile on some pulled pork, cheese, onions and barbecue sauce. There you go. Diners with smaller appetites will be happy to hear you can get the "lunch special" all day long, a sandwich with one side.

The Smokin' Hog with mac and cheese on the side

Everything we tasted was good. If you twisted my arm, I’d have to name the beef brisket as my fave, although the pulled pork was pretty rockin’, too.

Beef brisket with baked beans and cheesy potatoes

From the sides (all served in adorable short Mason jars), the cheesy potatoes came out the winner, reminding me my aunt’s hash brown casserole recipe. The baked beans were delish as well.

Pulled Pork

Sadly, I had to take off around the time the live music was just tuning up for the evening. This place offers a whole calendar full of acts from throughout the region to rock the house every weekend. Kids are welcome here until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, when the crowd is 21-and-older only.

If you like good barbecue in a really interesting atmosphere, get yourself down here pronto. I'm already looking forward to coming back again next time I'm in town. This place is hot.

For more information:
http://firehousebbqandblues.com/

Born and raised in Richmond, freelance writer Amy Lynch now makes her home in Indianapolis with her husband and three-year-old son. Read more about her food and travel adventures at www.amysfoodflights.wordpress.com.