Wildhorse Cafe

by Danielle Kees

Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River in Pomeroy I was able to find a spicy surprise in the form of a Southwestern-themed restaurant called The Wild Horse Café (www.thewildhorsecafe.net). The restaurant boasts about its great atmosphere, with space for large gatherings as well as intimate booths perfect for parties less than four people.

Before I was even able to visit The Wild Horse, I took a gander at the food options listed on the restaurant’s Web site. Burgers, pasta with Alfredo, pulled barbeque pork, and quesadillas were all listed on the menu. But the truly intriguing menu options were labeled with an icon of a bucking horse to symbolize the food with an extra “spicy kick.”

When I finally arrived at The Wild Horse Cafe, I was hungry and, boy, was I glad when the waitress brought a basket of chips with chunky mild salsa to my table. I was able to munch on the snack while I chose my meal. Before I arrived I fully anticipated on getting one of the “spicy kick” meals, but, alas, the Favorite Burger with a side of wedge fries was my final choice.

While I waited for my burger and fries, I was able to take a look around the restaurant. Cattle horns, stuffed deer heads, chaps, boots and a plethora of other Western-themed objects hung around the dining room. The Wild Horse’s web site didn’t lie about the restaurant having a great atmosphere. There were several families seated at large round tables and smaller parties looked comfortable in the booths along one side of the dining room. Opposite the booths, there was a wall of windows, which offer panoramic views of the Ohio River.

Just as I started to admire the views from my seat, the waitress brought out my burger and fries. I’m no food connoisseur, but this food was delicious and there was a lot of it. The wedge fries were hot and golden. The burger was juicy and, for an extra 50 cents, cheesy. To top it off, my bill was under $10!

All in all, I was very content with my visit to The Wild Horse Café: the service was good, the atmosphere relaxed, the food was tasty, and I left with a full stomach and a (slightly less) full wallet.

Motorcycle Hall of Fame

by Erica Blocher

I step onto the motorcycle, and slide onto the shiny leather seat. I pull on the heavy brown jacket and position my fingers on the handles, ready to hear the verve of the engine and humming vibrations as the motorcycle roars to life. Vroom….vroom…

Alas, I am not really preparing to ride a motorcycle, but perusing the Motorcycle Hall of Fame certainly put this picture into my mind. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame is truly a motorcycle owner and enthusiast’s Mecca, boasting over 100 motorcycles of various kinds and decades; I would know because I personally counted them as I wandered through. The museum is located near a residential neighborhood in Pickerington, Ohio, (Fairfield county).

There are vintage, specialty, and motocross bikes housed in the museum. Visitors are not allowed to touch the bikes but are allowed to take pictures. As a photography enthusiast, I took the liberty of taking pictures of various motorcycles; including Keith Urban’s blue and white 2007 Vengence.

This first floor has the “MotoStars: Celebrities and Motorcycles” collection that has over 50 motorcycles from famous people and celebrities, as well as notable movie props and memorabilia. For instance, there was the Scrambler 900 motorcycle that Tom Cruise rode in the movie MI-3, and a motorcycle sporting a Journey theme that was custom made for band member Neil Schon.

This floor also has unique memorabilia in glass cases, including famous celebrities’ mementos from movies featuring motorcycles such as The Fast and Furious, Torque and other big-name Hollywood hits. A quaint gift/memorabilia shop that sports t-shirts and other motorcycle themed products is also located on the first floor.

I ambled down to the second floor and found myself amid the Motorcycle Hall of Fame feature collection; “Awesome-ness”, which was a compilation of handcrafted motorcycles made by the famed motorcycle builder and activist Arlen Ness, who was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1992. The collection chronicles his life, when he built his first motorcycle back in the 1960s to modern times. His more popular builds are showcased, including the “Top Banana,” “Smooth-Ness”, “Jet Bike” and his 1957 Chevy inspired bike called the “Ness-Staglia.” Other famous Hall of Famers include Peter Fonda, Steve McQueen and Jay Leno.

The rest of the second floor had a “garage” type of setting and is dedicated to popular motorcycle makers such Harley-Davidson. This section also had an impressive tribute to dirt bikes. The collection highlighted a display with a variety of bikes over multiple decades and recorded the history and evolution of dirt bikes that originated during the early 20^th century. I learned that not only did the bike first emerge at this time, but the idea of racing also began simultaneously. Pictures of young men in newsboy hats and 1920s clothing atop old dirt bikes were fascinating. I liked that little history lessons on prominent motorcycle figures/ activists and racing background were included in the museum.

My favorite reward for visiting the museum was the photo op. The museum lets visitors hop onto a mounted bike and get their photograph taken, wearing a leather jacket and glasses. The bike is the same one that actor Will Smith rode in the movie I-Robot.

Aside from feeling badass for about 5 minutes of my very straight-laced life, I couldn’t believe that shiny leather seat was the same exact one that held Will Smith’s shapely derriere at one point. Talk about motorcycle bliss.!

A Christmas Performance

by Greg Gallant

The traces of Halloween may still be present in Southeast Ohio, but it’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit. Residents of the Muskingum County area awaiting the holiday season need not look any further than “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” a Zanesville Community Theater production.

The ZCT, a non-profit organization, will be staging the play in the coming weeks with a cast and crew of around 40 volunteers from the community. Under the direction of area educator Sheryl Wise, the group has been preparing the play since August.

The play revolves around a community trying to produce its annual Christmas pageant after their esteemed director is incapacitated. The duties of the director fall to Grace Bradley (Monica Van Nort), the mother of Beth and Charlie (Siena Shirer and Nick Clawson). When the notorious Herdman siblings (Matthew Pitcock, Grace Johnson, Meredith Free, Jack McLendon, Noah Townsend and Tony Palmer), the bullies of the community, become a part of the play, most of the participants quit. The Herdmans and the Bradleys must band together to put on the pageant, and the whole town turns out to see what happens.

Quite a bit of comedy mixes in with the story as well. “There’s a lot of funny material, but there’s also a lot of heartwarming stuff,” said Wise. Music is a big part of the production, as well. Wise plays piano, while the actors sing and play instruments as part of the play within a play.

“If you want to have a feel-good time, enjoy Christmas Music, and get yourself into the holiday spirit, this would be a great way to start,” said Wise.

Performances will be held on October 30^th and 31^st, and November 6^th and 7^th at 7 pm, with matinee showings on November 1^st and 8^th at 2:30 pm. Tickets cost $12, $8 for seniors and students, and $5 for youths. All proceeds go toward the operation of the theater.

Exploring Barkcamp State Park

by Sarah Binning

Mother Nature apparently did not get the memo. Unseasonably chilly weather is cooping us inside. Despite the fact it is only October, cabin fever is setting in already and I need to get outside. Unable to afford any of the expensive remedies to cabin fever (like going to a museum or seeing a movie), I pack a light backpack and head to Barkcamp State Park.

Conveniently located a few miles off I-70 in Belmont, nature beckons all to hike in the quiet hills of Barkcamp. Standing in the park’s overlook, I see peaks of autumn color beginning to emerge from the treetops. I begin my adventure with a simple half-mile hike from the overlook to the camp’s beach.

The weather is brisk, but welcoming. Within a matter of minutes I am lost in the excitement in my friend’s voice as he teaches me how to identify trees. He scoops a fallen leaf from the path, “This is a red maple leaf. Know how you can tell?” He draws my attention to the small, sharp teethed ridge of the leaf.

The sun dances through the trees as we continue the trail. “Oh, here we go. Smell this,” Bryan says as he plucks an overhanging leaf. I raise my eyebrow. “No trust me, you’ll like it.”

He rubs the top of the leaf, surfacing the plant’s oils so I can inhale the sweet, fruity scent of sassafras.

I am not sure which is more satisfying, my taking the time to learn and enjoy nature or the fact I am doing it for free. Other than the cost of gas, I spent nothing for an entire day of activities.

With Ohio’s unemployment rate reaching 10.8 percent in August, it’s no wonder why families are turning to Barkcamp for vacations and getaways.

For overnight excursions, families pay a small fee to camp on the grounds. “The economy is bringing more campers,” Park Officer Dave Casasanta says. April through October, regular camping costs $20 per night, about the fourth of a cheap motel cost.

Camping is available year round, even in the dead of winter. Prices drop to only $18 per night during off-seasons. “We’ve even had families who have camped here for Thanksgiving. More people are starting to come for Christmas Eve and Christmas,” Casasanta says.

Camping in winter? Who could be so crazy? Yet despite how absurd it sounds, the park offers special seasonal activities to entice late fall and winter visitors.

In addition to seasonal hunting, guests can take advantage of the archery range. Many guests also use the multipurpose trail for horseback riding. Once snow hits the trails, guests are welcome to use the 24-mile path for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

I can hardly wait for Belmont Lake to freeze. My ice skates are sitting in my closet, as I eagerly wait to return to Barkcamp and test my talents on solid ice. Who knows, while I’m there maybe I’ll try my hand at ice fishing too.

Little Cola Cabins in Hocking County

by Carolyn Miller

There is nothing like a nice getaway to Hocking County. There are so many sights to see with all of the natural gems that this county has been blessed with, and after a long day of hiking and biking, all you need is a good place to kick up your feet.

Little Cola Cabins is a family business that owns a pair of mid-1800s cabins so that visitors can kick back and relax in style. Located in Rockwell, Ohio, Little Cola Cabins are just minutes from Cantwell Cliffs and the Rockhouse. They are the perfect place to stay after a long day of experiencing nature. The cabins aren’t facsimiles; each one is an original building constructed centuries ago. They were dismantled log-by-log and reconstructed in a 65 acre forest in the heart of Hocking Hills, complete with kitchen, fireplace, porch swing, pool table, hammock, wood burning stove, grill and (yes!) a hot tub. Who knew people from the 1800s had this much style?

The cabins themselves are nothing short of darling. Each truly looks as though it has stepped out of the pages of history, nestled quietly between the trees with gardens in front. It would make for an incredibly romantic and secluded weekend getaway for two, though both cabins can accommodate up to six people.

The cabins charge $155 per night on winter weekends, $135 per night on winter weekdays (December 1-May 31), $175 per night on summer weekends and $155 per night on summer weekdays (June 1-November 30). There are discounts for longer stays and children under five can stay for free. Dates fill up fast, so if you are planning a trip and would like to stay in Little Cola Cabins, it is best to make your plans weeks or even months in advance.

These cabins are a must-stay in your Hocking Hills experience.

Historical Well of Noble County

by Brittany Perrine

Noble County is home to several significant historical sites that are easily accessible from most of southeast Ohio. One of these sites is the Thorla-McKee Well, the first oil well in North America. The well can still be seen today in its original condition and continues to give oil, gas and salt water in limited quantities.

The well is located in a small park just off SR 78, two miles east of Caldwell off exit 25. It is a peaceful, small park, no bigger than one acre, with two picnic tables shaded by towering trees. Toward the back edge of the park is the actual well, which is barely visible from the parking lot and entrance. There is also an old railroad boxcar that was donated by a local family in 1993, along with a small wooden shelter for those rainy days. A sign at the entrance of the park marks it as an official Ohio Historical Site and tells the history of the well. When Silas Thorla and Robert McKee drilled the well in 1814, they intended to find salt, but also found oil and natural gas. They cased the well with a hollow sycamore log down to the bedrock about 18 feet deep and 34 inches in diameter.

It is pretty amazing to see the drill still rigged up and the original sycamore log casing around the well. There’s just something about seeing a piece of history that is almost 200 years old and is still in the exact same condition today as it was when it was created. If you have some spare time, take the family for a scenic drive and history lesson, and check out this well in Noble County.

Cardo's Pizza

by Rachel Godward

In 1989, Ohio University alumnus John Moore opened Cardo’s Pizza in a cramped 500-square-foot building on Broadway Street in downtown Jackson, Ohio. Today Cardo’s hosts parties and serves buffet-style pizza in a roomy, refurbished Henry’s grocery store decorated with movie posters, Ohio paraphernalia, awards and a spunky, old jukebox that surprisingly still works. An antique Cardo’s delivery car door even hangs from the ceiling above the condiments. Upon entering the restaurant, smells of fresh dough and spices fill the nostrils, and the tender smell of pepperoni surrounds the place like a solid brick wall.

As an Italian myself, with an Italian roommate, father and grandparents that spend hours slaving over traditional dishes in the kitchen, I feel fully qualified to answer the following question: Sure, this pizza shop’s atmosphere is superb, but are the pies just as nice?

Meh, I could do without this. = ©

Hmm, that’s not too bad, but I’ve had better. = ©©

Mmm, that’s pretty tasty. = ©©©

Woah! Can I have 20 of this? Or at least the recipe? Please?! = ©©©©

Let’s start with the sides:

Garlic Bread — ©

As with every buffet, food can get cold pretty quickly. However, this garlic bread could not afford to lose its heat. This generic-looking bread was cold and hard. It was yellow with something that definitely was not butter and sprinkled lightly with basic spices. In summary, the garlic bread looked and tasted store bought.

Cheesy Bread — ©©©

Is soft, doughy and super cheesy your thing? If so, this bread is a necessary addition to your buffet plate. It’s simple, but classic. The edges are lightly baked to a brown crisp, but the middle retains its chewy, “melt in your mouth” appeal. Just make sure to grab this special side when it comes right out of the oven.

Now, on to the crispy, thin-crusted pizzas:

BBQ Chicken — ©©©©

This pie is covered edge-to-edge with chicken bits and crispy bacon crumbles, smothered in a deep brown sauce. The flavor is subtly smoky, just like it was cooked on the grill. It’s super tasty and not too filling, so you could afford to grab seconds. And trust me, after trying this divine pie, you’ll want more.

Cheeseburger — ©

This pizza is covered in a generic red sauce with a blend of cheeses on top. Sounds pretty normal, right? But instead of using ground beef, this pizza substitutes with sausage. It looks the same, but it doesn’t taste the same. It’s definitely a let down for cheeseburger lovers everywhere.

BLT —©©©©

This one took me by surprise. As a BLT lover, I had high expectations and the pie didn’t look all that impressive, but once I took a bite I realized my first impression was wrong. This pizza is, in fact, a BLT. It’s covered in crispy bacon pieces with a mayonnaise base, and topped with heaping amounts of lettuce and tomato. And no one flavor is overpowering; they all work together to recreate that classic sandwich taste.

So, are the pies just as nice as Cardo’s refurbished location? I’d vote yes. Sure, the place has a couple taste bud downfalls, but as long as you stick to the Cheesy Bread, BBQ Chicken and BLT pizzas, you’ll probably be so enveloped in delicious flavors that you’ll forget all about the mediocre pies. Just remember: It’s an all-you-can eat buffet for one flat price, so be sure to grab seconds, thirds and fourths of all your favorites!