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Monthly Archives: November 2016

Florence, AL. A Visit To the Father of the Blues-W.C. Handy Museum

Bronze bust of W.C. Handy who loved and made music, but loved G-D more!
Bronze bust of W.C. Handy who loved and made music, but loved G-D more!

APtravelnews- “Bob and Barb On The Road Again” Nov. 10th,-Florence, AL.-Unquestionably, a visit to the W.C. Handy Museum; W.C., being the Father of the Blues, was one of the highlights of our visit to Florence, AL. Handy was born in Florence in 1873 in a simple cabin now turned into a museum of his life and music. The hand hewn log structure is original and housed in it is virtual treasure trove library that is a valuable resource center for black history and culture. You will find Handy’s famous trumpet, his personal piano handwritten sheet music, photographs, household furnishings and his bronze bust that faithfully offers a 3-dimensional look at the highly vetted music-man. Handy got much inspiration by the natural sounds of animals and birds in nature such as whippoorwills, owls, bats and sounds he felt and heard in the Cypress Creek wilderness. He envisioned bird calls as notes on the musical scale. Handy composed such special pieces such as the St. Louis Blues, the Memphis Blues and the Beale Street Blues among other favorites in history. Handy was deeply religious and as an educated musician he incorporated folk material in his compositions and so scrupulous in his documentations of his works it allowed musicians around the world to reproduce his musical works.

Florence does have a favorite historical son!
Florence does have a favorite historical son!

The W.C. Handy Music festival is held each July. Musicians from around the world gather for a week- long  celebration of music , with events held in Florence and the surrounding Shoals area.

Call for more information: 256-766-9719 www.whandymusicfestival.org

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Writer and professional blogger , Rebecca McCormick playing the notes on the rare music instrument at W.C. Museum. She is a remarkable musician in her own right!

To visit the museum you can call for easy details at 256-760-6434  check out www.florenceal.org and www.visitflorenceal.com

W.C. Handy stand-up poster next to his fireplace!
W.C. Handy stand-up poster next to his fireplace!
The delightful museum guide, showing off one of only 4 known hand musical instruments in existence.
The delightful museum guide, showing off one of only 4 known hand musical instruments in existence.
All original, his music and piano!
All original, his music and piano!         

Deano’s Italian Grill The Authentic Brick Oven Favorites on Main St. Dublin, GA.

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Chicken Marsala had the most tasty mushrooms and sauces ever!!
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Barb enjoying EVERYTHING!

AmericanPressTravelNews.com-Dublin, GA.-November 7th,-Bob & Barb “On the Road Again and feasting again! We headed out from Page House B & B into town by car (although it was in walking distance) and stopped in front of Deano’s Italian Grill. We are familiar with the great tastes that come out of a wood-fired brick oven, and when I saw the massive grill full of various Italian dishes and pizzas being done to perfection in the black-body heat method (cooks through and through quickly and leaves all dishes moist and not dried out) of radiating cooking temperature, perfect for doing dishes perfectly, I sat down-period!

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Pizza Bruni with fresh mozzarella and copicola sausage, basil and red onion.

Robert and Jennifer Shaffer owners and operators, both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, came from Florida to Dublin in 2010, to do their thing! And boy, do they do their thing. Their wait and cooking staff are really committed to this restaurant,  as besides loving the fare, they respect and like the owners as well, I learned this based on me asking a few of them how they like working at Deano’s. 

Check Deano’s out at: www.deanos-italian.com

So what did we eat, well, we popped a pizza, a chicken marsala dish, Calamari dish to perfection and then desserts to salivate over. So we were talked into a Crème Brule’ that was fab-plus!img_6218

Pizza Bruni, a delight to the eye and the palate!
Pizza Bruni, a delight to the eye and the palate!
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Candied walnuts salad with excellent sauce and farm fresh greens! WOW!!
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Calamari was touted by our waitress as best in GA. We ate and agreed with her!
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An overhead view from their upstairs party room.

Calamari was light floured and flash fried. It came with marinara and cherry pepper sauce. The citrus garden salad was crafted with strawberries, mandarin oranges, grapes candied walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese with balsamic vinaigrette.  The Chicken Marsala was a pan seared chick breast with delicious sauteed mushrooms, in roasted garlic butter and Marsala wine sauce. We finished our meal with Coffee and crème brule.

Page House Bed & Breakfast A Monument to Anyones Great Lodging Experiences

img_6201AmericanPressTravelNews.com Nov. 7th,Dublin, GA.–“Bob and Barb on the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses”, and visit for awhile!–We stopped for a couple of nights to enjoy a real quality B&B and we were not even slightly disappointed staying at the really magnificent Page House. We first met Mono working the leaves off the driveway, just after pulling into a true early American Estate sized home from a different era and century with giant pillars and the look of what the real White House in D.C. must have looked like before the many gates and fences, additions and subtractions. This was a true Antebellum Southern home only remodeled to modernize the needs of casual tourists in all modern ways possible, but yet totally in keeping with the themes and decor of a quieter, more pastel time in American History. WE LOVED IT! We have learned that the owners make or break a B & B. Mono and JoAnn were fabulous, caring hosts and mighty fine chefs as well. This place as they say in GA. is   “The Gem of the Emerald City.” www.pagehousebb.com  ph and fax: (478) 275-4551

Yes, there are great restaurants in Dublin. See additional posts for Company Supply Rotisserie Bistro and Deano’s Italian Grille Brick Oven favorites!!!!

Mono and JoAnn, Page House Owner-Operators put together a memorable breakfast repast. Finer host will be hard to find!!
Mono and JoAnn, Page House Owner-Operators put together a memorable breakfast repast. Finer host will be hard to find!!
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All rooms and suites have modern baths and showers, TV’s and most important; comfy beds and linens.
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Formerly the only home in Dublin, GA. with a ballroom! Today it’s a “sweet” dining room area, or can be a ball room for special occasions as well!
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Mono and JoAnn putting up a sumptuous breakfast for guests!
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GA. Toast with GA. peaches-umm, umm Great!
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Omelette Greek style with Goat Cheese, spinach and LUV!

 

 

Hellen Keller Birthplace Tour Reminded Us How Incredible This Woman Really Was

Helen Keller statue showing
Helen Keller statue showing the pump where she uttered her first word, “water.” She learned that everything had a name.

American Press Travel News -November 5th,–Florence, AL.–Their are a several iconic people that have been honored for their excellence in achievements in their private and public life over the years. One such; Helen Keller stands tall and above the rest in many ways due to her special stifling, life altering circumstances, for instilling an amazingly powerful inspirational  messages throughout the world. Its very hard for people to understand how a person without the powers of both sight and hearing can rise to the heights of greatness that Helen Keller was able to accomplish. Keller was born at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia, AL. Originally the Keller home was built on 640 acres in 1820. On June 27th, 1880 Keller was born a natural child with all her faculties. 19-months later, an illness left Keller deaf and blind. The now well known story of how Keller, with the strong assistance of Annie Sullivan her nurse, mentor and ultimately, her life-long friend defied adversity and became an author and an inspiration to the whole world. Helen Kellers first word uttered several years after being taught by Annie Sullivan was “water.”  The City of Tuscumbia  acquired the Birthplace of Helen Keller which is now situated on a 10-acre tract of land, in 1951. Helen graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904 with “teacher” by her side at all times. Helen was actively identified with The American Foundation  for the Blind from 1924 until her death, June 1st 1968. Anne Sullivan Macy was Teacher and companion to Helen from 1887 until her death in 1936. After that, Polly Thompson who had been secretary since 1914 became her companion. Check out the “Miracle Worker” the play written by William Gibson. It is produced each summer on the grounds of Ivy Green. It is now the official outdoor drama of Alabama. I highly recommend you head for the the Helen Keller Festival which takes place annually the last weekend in June at Tuscumbia Spring Park and in downtown Tuscumbia. So many interesting things to see at Ivy Green such as the Gardens, the Gazebo, the Ice House, the main house, parlor, hall, dining room, cottage the Pump at which Helen learned that first word “water” is located behind the main house. Annie Sullivan wrote these later that historic night, “she has learned that everything has a name, and that the manual alphabet is the key to everything she wants to know.” Go: www.helenkellerbirthplace.org