A Pickville Christmas

(image from iUtah)

The Pickleville Playhouse in Bear Lake is a great summer source for fun and entertainment. During the Christmas season, they bring their unique brand of comedy to Logan for Pickleville Christmas. These North Pole musicals are fun and enjoyable for the entire family. This year, Buster the elf (T.J. Davis, who also wrote the musical) leads an always hilarious cast in Once Upon a Christmas, a memorable musical sure to be filled with laughter, romance, intrigue, and some interesting takes on some of your favorite Christmas songs.

The show will run on select dates from November 27th-December 23rd at the USU's Eccles Conference Center. Tickets can be purchased just for the show itself (Adults=$15.95, Kids [age 11 and under]=$9.95), or you can purchase tickets that include a buffet dinner before the show catered by the Copper Mill restaurant (Adults=$30.95, Kids [age 11 and under]=$17.95).

So come enjoy a new Cache Valley holiday tradition, where you can use the buffet to fill up your belly, then shake while you laugh like a bowlful of jelly.

More information and tickets available HERE.

Cache Valley Gift Basket

Chris recently received a gift basket as a thank you for speaking at a local conference. The basket was filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies from Cache Valley.

With so many gift giving opportunites coming up, maybe it's time to think local for your next hostess gift, care package, or holiday neighbor gifts.This basket contained Pepperidge Farm Chessman, Goldfish crackers, Wheat Crisps, and raspberry Milano cookies; Deverle's All-Purpose Seasoning; a sampler of Cox Honeyland honeys; Bluebird chocolates; Caspers Salad dressing; a mug from The Beehive Grill; and a yummy candle from Scentinal.

With so many food production operations in Cache Valley, it's easy to fill up a basket with local treats. The options significantly increase if your gift giving allows for perishible food items: bread, cheeses, ice cream, and local produce.

Any other Cache Valley foods that top your list? If you moved away, what would you crave the most? Any non-food specialties from Cache Valley that you live for? Let us know!

Paradise Valley Orchard

In picturesque Paradise, you will find the charming Paradise Valley Orchard. They have apples and pumpkins, U-pick. Fresh eggs and apple cider pressed on site are also available.
Experience picking your apples off the tree, as chicken run free through the orchard, and the thrill of finding the perfect pumpkin from the patch.

Price List
Directions
Hours

AWHC

If you haven't visited the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville, tomorrow is your chance! Get your fall on at their Farmtastic Fall Celebration. And if you have been, it is time to go back-for free. In conjunction with Smithsonian Museum Day 2009 you can visit for free! Go here to print out your ticket. Hours are 1-5 pm and the ticket doesn't include the corn maze.

We aren't sure if this will work in addition to the free entrance, but here is a Free Ride Coupon. Hey, it is worth a shot.

Logan River/Golf Course Trail

I just discovered the gem of the Logan River/Golf Course Trail. Winding through the Logan River Golf Course and along the river and under a canopy of trees the 1.5 mile trail is a great place for jogging, biking, or strolling. Dogs are allowed on leash and please pick up after them.
The trail is marked with signs, and as long as you follow them you won't have to share the trail with golf carts. The trail is dotted with plaques of the planets in our solar system. The planets are spaced along the trail relative to their distance in space. Who knew Neptune was so far out there?


You will find the entrance to the trail on Golf Course Rd at about 300 W. The other end of the trail comes out on HWy 91 by the train tracks.

Andy's Resaurant

2095 N. Main St. (North Logan)

Andy's Restaurant is a new burger place in North Logan, located right next to the Black Pearl. The sign out front says "Burgers-Fries-Steaks," but there are no steaks to be found (unless you count the chuck steak in the hamburgers). The napkins say "Burgers-Fries-Shakes," which is more accurate, so it makes me wonder if the sign maker made a rather glaring mistake on the front sign.

The things I like most about Andy's are the reasonable prices and the fact that you can get a high-end burger (like a bacon & swiss) for less than $0.50 more than a regular burger. When my wife and I went, we got two burgers and one combo meal (drink & fries), which is enough food for us. And it came out to just over $10, which I think is a pretty decent deal.

The burgers themselves are pretty good. They remind me of the perfect juicy, backyard barbecue-grilled burger. The fries are always hot and well-seasoned, and they come equipped with some great fry sauce. In addition to burgers, Andy's also offers chicken strips and chicken sandwiches. The onion rings and milkshakes also look delicious, but we haven't taken the opportunity to try them yet.

So if you have the opportunity to give Andy's Restaurant a try, go ahead and give it a shot. Let us know how you like it!

Autoplex

1840 North Main St. (North Logan)

About a year ago, I became a member of the "Raise the Bar (RTB) Car Care Club" at Autoplex Auto Repair in North Logan. Sounds pretty fancy, right? You become a member by purchasing a brochure from a door-to-door salesman. The brochure includes 6 Lube, Oil, and Filter service coupons and 9 other free or reduced rate service coupons. You pay a lump sum for the brochure that equals out to a rate significantly reduced from their regular charge, since you are kind of purchasing in bulk. The name of the program, "Raise the Bar Car Care Club," also implies to me a kind of special, elite treatment for being a loyal customer. However, as I have came to find out, that is quite opposite of the truth.

A few months ago, I called to set up an appointment to have my car serviced, using the instructions given in the coupon brochure:

1. Call for an appointment
2. Identify yourself as an RTB Car Care Member
3. Bring this card with you!

Upon identifying myself as an RTB Car Care Member, I was told that all of their appointments were full for almost two weeks. So I scheduled the first appointment available - two weeks out. And when I arrived for that appointment, I was told that I was not on the schedule. They did take my car and perform the service anyway, but it was annoying that I scheduled an appointment two weeks in advance and then I wasn't even scheduled in their system.

I called again on Friday last week to schedule another service appointment. After telling them that I was an RTB Car Care Member, I was told that, because of the 4th of July and the upcoming 24th of July,* a lot of people had booked appointments and I would not be able to get in for almost two weeks. As I set up the appointment and hung up the phone, I wondered what would happen if I weren't a member of the "elite" RTB Care Care Club. So I decided to find out.

On Monday, I called again to schedule an appointment. The person on the phone asked if I was an RTB Car Club member, and I told him I was not. His response?

"I can get you in tomorrow at 2pm or 3pm, what would work best for you?"

I told him I would check my schedule and get back to him, and then hung up.

You would think that a program like the RTB Car Care Club is designed to create loyal and consistent customers. But after seeing how Autoplex treats their loyal "Car Care" members, I certainly will not return. At least, not after my 6 car servicing coupons are used up!

PS I haven't been too impressed with the quality of the servicing either, or the dirtiness left behind in the car after it is complete.

* Pioneer Day - a Utah holiday

Callaway's Bistro

54 N. Main St. (Smithfield)

Callaway's Bistro is an Italian restaurant on the east side of Main Street in Smithfield, just about 10-15 minutes north of Logan. It has a great bohemian, welcoming atmosphere and food to match. The following picture show the patio of the restaurant. Our table happened to be just inside the garage door on the right side of this picture.

Our meal at Callaway's began with tall, thin breadsticks brought to us in a glass jar, a clever and unique start to our meal. Throughout the meal, our waitress was not shy about replacing our jar of breadsticks whenever she noticed it was empty (and I like breadsticks, so it happened frequently).

My wife both ordered a similar style of pasta, and it was very good - probably the best Italian food I have had in Cache Valley. The prices were very reasonable and the portions left enough for lunch the next day. I'm already looking for an excuse for a return visit sometime in the near future.

Pounders Grill

473 South Main St. (Logan)

A little piece of Hawaii is a welcome addition to Cache Valley. Pounders opened on March 30 and its generous Hawaiian hospitality is quickly growing in popularity. Pounders is a casual dining environment and flip flops are alway welcome. The line may be long, but moves quickly (and is worth the small wait). Place your order at the register and then have a seat inside, or out under the colorful umbrellas. Your meal will quickly be carried out to you, so keep an ear listening for your name.

Pounders menu consists of 8 basic meats that can be combined in 3 different meals, as salads and as sandwiches.

The Keiki gives you the choice of 1 meat, rice and salad. The Pounder lets you choose 2 meats, and also comes with rice and a salad. With the Kahuna you are able to sample 3 meats as well as a salad and rice. The prices start at $4.99 for the Keiki and I believe go up to $8.99 for the Kahuna. The front counter has a tray of different sauces for you to enjoy. Included in those are their Katsu sauce, a teriyaki sauce, as well as soy sauce. Pounders serves Pepsi products.

My first visit to Pounders was with my sisters. I ordered a Pounder with Katsu Chicken and Kaluha Pork. The pork was exactly the same as I remember eating at a luau on the island of Oahu. The Katsu chicken is a Panko crusted chicken served with Katsu sauce. A sweet sauce made with apple sauce. Two sisters ordered ribs, but found them to be tasty, but very greasy. The other sister ordered a sandwich, but was left wishing she had opted for a more traditional plate instead. Meals are served with macaroni salad, but may be subsituted by a green salad upon request. Fries can also replace the rice if you so chose, but I don't recommend it.

On my second visit I once again had a Pounder with Pounder Chicken and their ribs. The Pounder Chicken is breaded and fried and served in the signature Pounder sauce. It is my favorite item so far. Instead of greasy, I found my ribs to be rather tough, although the flavor was delicious.

If Spam and seaweed are your thing, look for the Spam rolls next to the register.

On my most recent visit I noticed the shaved ice machine enticing me to come back for a Pounders Shaved Ice.

Grab your Hawaiian shirt and head to Pounders. You won't regret it.

The Bluebird

19 North Main St. (Logan)

The Bluebird is one of the longest-standing establishments in Cache Valley. I know people who remember going to the Bluebird for for dinners and receptions long before I was even born. It's where my wife and I had our wedding dinner as well. In addition to being a restaurant, they still have an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, as well as their own line of chocolates and candies.

It's not hard to see why the Bluebird is such a beloved place that has become a tradition in Logan and throughout the Cache Valley. The prices are extremely reasonable (we got our dinners - including rolls, salads, and sides - for about $10), and the food is certainly good. I highly recommend the steak and Bluebird chicken dinner (it's actually on the menu as steak and sweet & sour chicken, but they will allow you to substitute the Bluebird chicken instead).

When you go to the register to pay for your meal, it's easy to get drawn in to purchasing some of the delicious choclates that are on display. You certainly won't be disappointed if you do.

And the old-fashioned ice cream parlor at the front of the restaurant is a great spot to take a breather while checking out all of the downtown Main Street shops.

All-in-all, the Bluebird is a perfect place for a family dinner that won't break the bank, a romantic throwback date at the ice cream parlor, or to sooth your chocolate cravings with locally made confections. It's no wonder that the Bluebird has been around for so long, and there's no reason to believe that it won't be around for a long time to come.

RockHaus

1780 North 200 East (Logan)

Ever since the husband and brother-in-laws went rock climbing in December I wanted in on the climbing action.

RockHaus is the local climbing gym. The staff there is beyond friendly and helpful. They made me feel at ease my very first time there. We've since made it our goal to go at least once a month, which is a bit of a stretch in comfort for my heights-fearing husband.

After a thorough little introduction (and all the release forms), you're good to go. You can rent all the equipment you need there, and they have some for sale in their shop. You better have little feet or be a larger woman for any of the picked-over shoes and clothing currently stocked to work for you. The selection was better last month, so I don't know if they're phasing out this part of their operations, or if new merchandise is coming.

Today, from the comfy sofa, we enjoyed watching some graceful and fluid climbers in their lead climbing. The sofa in the gym seems a little out of place, but I like it. The whole place has a "come hang out and enjoy it all" vibe. We're starting to recognize the regulars, and find watching them inspiring.

If you're into bouldering, there is a decent-sized bouldering room upstairs. For me, bouldering is just a little too high for comfort without a harness. I'll stick to top roping it. With routes changing on a three month rotation, we'll be back next month to see what's new.

Kamin Thai Cuisine

51 W. 200 S. (Logan)

Kamin Thai Cuisine is (to my knowledge) the only Thai restaurant in Logan. We have been there a couple of times, including a visit last night. If you like Thai food (kind of like Chinese, but less greasy and fried), I would certainly recommend it. Last night, I had the Thai Cashew Nut Chicken and my wife had "The King" with pork - which was basically a ginger-based dish. The flavor is a little milder than I would have liked, but I could have asked for mine to be extra spicy, had I thought about it.

The only thing that went wrong during our visit was that we both asked for brown rice and were brought white rice. I didn't really mind, but my wife got her rice switched without a hassle.

Kamin Thai doesn't hold a candle to my favorite Thai restaurant - Talay Thai in Washington, D.C. - but, for compared to other restaurants in Logan, it's got a great feel, atmosphere, and pretty good food.

Blackstone Restaurant

255 S. Main (Logan)

My wife and I recently went to Blackstone for a casual lunch date. Blackstone is fairly new to Logan's restaurant scene; an old Deseret Industries building turned into somewhat of formal dining restaurant, similar in appearance and atmoshpere to Hamilton's. After it opened, I heard mainly negative responses from those who had gone there, so I had never been too eager to try it myself. However, my wife and I felt it was time to give it a shot and make up our own mind.

Upon arriving at the restaurant a little after 2pm, we waited at the vacant hostess desk for a good five minutes before someone must have spotted us. All I know is that we heard someone loudly yell the hostess's name and she soon appeared, moving quickly to help us and probably hoping she wasn't in too much trouble for leaving her post for an extended period of time. Not a good start.

After being seated in the nearly empty resetaurant, we took a little time to browse through the lunch menu. I had heard that Blackstone's prices were fairly high, which was one reason we had decided to come during lunch. But even the lunch menu prices were a little higher than what we were expecting. I settled on the cheesesteak sandwich with fries, while my wife got the pesto chicken focaccia sandwich with rice pilaf.

The cheesesteak sandwich was generously filled with juicy steak and a healthy amount of cheese, but the most abundant ingredient and taste was grease. The wedged fries were extremely unevenly coated with seasoning - some with none at all, and others with patches or lines of seasoning coated on way too thick. Only a healthy dose of ketchup was able to make them palatable. They were overly crunchy on the outside and overly mushy on the inside.

My wife described her sandwich as decent, if lacking in the pesto department, but difficult to eat with the large slices of peppers slipping out from the focaccia at any chance they could. The rice, in her words, was definitely nothing to write home about.

We  then waited for another ten minutes after we were done before the waiter even showed up to see what he could get us for dessert. But after the lackluster service and food already experienced, we decided to pass on having dessert, as I think we will pass at eating at Blackstone again.