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Appleton is a fabulous small town, population 77,000, nestled in northeastern Wisconsin near Lake Michigan and at the north end of large Lake Winnebago, home of the unique Winnebago lake fly. (Precise coordinates: 44.26 degrees north of the equator and 88.39 degrees west of the prime meridian.) Other basic statistics on Appleton are
available at City-data.com, or check
Appleton's weather at Wunderground.com.
As someone who has been to many parts of the world, I'm happy to say that Appleton is a beautiful and a pleasant place to live. I am thrilled by the large and numerous trees, the numerous city parks, the lively downtown, the diversity and quality of its restaurants, the security and peacefulness of the community, and the friendliness of the people. In fact, in 2004, Appleton was honored for being in the top 10 most secure cities in the United States (interestingly, I was born in the #1 city on the list, Provo, Utah).
Lawrence University at night, reflected in the Fox River by Oneida Flats. Photo by Jeff Lindsay, October 11, 2004. |
One of my favorite things about Appleton is the majesty of the Fox River. Of course, anyone who grew up in Utah is awed (that's a-w-e-d, not o-d-d!) by the sight of a river more than 10 feet wide. The Fox River runs through the heart of Appleton. Though once heavily polluted, in recent decades it has been largely restored to a clean and biologically diverse wonder. Many species of fish live in the river, including (so I hear) sturgeon, bass, pike, trout, perch, walleye and carp. The Fox River is unusual in that it flows north for its entire course. It exits into Lake Michigan at Green Bay about 30 miles to the north of Appleton. A series of locks exist that once permitted navigation from Lake Winnebago to Lake Michigan and from there, the world. The locks aren't used now in order to prevent the infiltration of zebra mussels and other unsavory critters from other parts of the world.
Appleton is a beautiful place to live, especially when it's not winter. Abundant wild flowers line the roads and many species of wild birds inhabit the area, including the ubiquitous and gorgeous red-winged blackbird. And recently, I had the inspiring and even breath-taking experience of watching a large hummingbird moth dine on our petunias (see the full-sized photo alone or on Page 3 of Photos from Appleton). I thought it was a hummingbird - until I noticed its antennas and six legs. (I believe it is Hyles lineata - actually a sphinx moth). You can learn more about these creatures at the Moths of Wisconsin site, listed under "Familie Sphingdae." That site is offered by the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center of the US Geologic Survey.
Perhaps most spectacular of all the beautiful sights in this area are the sunsets. I don't know why - perhaps it's the interaction of Lake Michigan with northern winds - but this area is frequently blessed with rich and varied cloud formations sprinkled across an open sky that leads to stunning colors and dazzling light effects in the evening. A sunset viewed from the shores of Lake Winnebago or Little Lake Butte des Morts or even my own front yard can often be too much for words. Come visit us and see for yourself!
Appleton is the largest of the "Fox Cities," which include multiple communities along the Fox River: Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Combined Locks, Town of Grand Chute, Little Chute, Freedom, Town of Neenah, Town of Menasha, Town of Vandenbroek, Darboy, Town of Buchanan, and Town of Harrison. The Fox Cities have a combined population of 180,000 people (and even more raccoons). The Fox River Valley is the second largest market in Wisconsin (perhaps this claim requires that we add in the 90,000 people of nearby Green Bay, which also sits on the Fox River).
French explorers came to this area in the 1600s, seeking a northwest passage to the Pacific. Explorer Jean Nicolet saw the Fox River in the 1630s. Later, Louis Nicolet and Father Jacques Marquette paddled the length of the Fox River (upstream - but it's a slow river in most places), portaged to the Wisconsin River and then discovered the Mississippi in 1673.
One fur trader, Hippolyte Grignon, built a spacious home, the White Heron, in 1835. It also served as an inn and trading post. The Grignon Mansion remains a major historical site in the Fox Cities (actually in Kaukauna). Then, two important men came onto the scene: Amos Lawrence and a Methodist minister, Rev. Reeder Smith. Interestingly, the 1880 census records from Outagamie County lists the occupation of Reeder Smith (husband of Eliza P. Smith, born 1804 in Pennsylvania) as the "Founder of the City of Appleton, Wisconsin" (search for Reeder Smith at FamilySearch.org). The story of Rev. Reeder's collaboration with Amos Lawrence found a college in Wisconsin is told on the page, "Appleton History: Amos A. Lawrence and Reeder Smith," one of a series of articles in the "History of Appleton" provided by the Appleton Public Library. Part of Mr. Lawrence's motivation was to enhance the value of land owned by Eleazer Williams, who later claimed to be the Lost Dauphin of France. The Williams land was not chosen as the site for the new college, but an improved location not far from the Grignot trading post was chosen, a site next to the Grand Chute falls on the Fox River. Soon the Lawrence Institute (now Lawrence University) was chartered in 1847 with financial help from Amos Lawrence.
Mayor Timothy Hanna buying flowers from a Hmong woman named Tria at Appleton's Farmers Market, August 6, 2005. Click to enlarge. |
Samuel Appleton donated $10,000 for the new college library. The community that sprung up around Lawrence University, initially called Grand Chute (there is still a community of Grand Chute next to Appleton), was given the name of Appleton. It has long been claimed that the new name was in appreciation for Samuel Appleton's generosity, and he certainly believed that this was the case. However, according to
historical information from the Appleton Library, Reeder Smith was the first to call the area Appleton, not to honor of Samuel Appleton, but the wife of Mr. Lawrence, Sarah Elizabeth Appleton. She was the daughter of William Appleton, a merchant in Boston and a member of Congress. Samuel Appleton was a cousin of William.
Whoever was being honored by its name, the community of Appleton became incorporated as a village in 1853 and as a city in 1857. The records show John F. Johnston as the first resident and village president, with Amos Storey becoming the first mayor in 1857. And the rest is history! (For another historical overview, see "About Appleton" at Appleton.org.)
Appleton was settled by northern Europeans. Many people here have German, Dutch, or Polish ancestry. In recent years, Appleton has become more culturally diverse as peoples from other parts of the world have come here to live. Nearly three thousand Hmong people, originally from Laos, now live here, as do smaller numbers of Hispanics (mostly from Mexico), African-Americans, and Native Americans. The Oneida Indian Nation, with a rich and fascinating history, is especially prominent in this area. (The Oneida reservation is just a few miles to the north of Appleton.) Though we have a long way to go, Appleton has made good progress in welcoming and working with diverse peoples. The school system has worked especially hard to reach out to the Hmong people and others. For more information on the history of Appleton, see the Local History Page provided by the Appleton Public Library.
A Great Place for the French Horn!
For students learning the French horn, Appleton can't be beat, thanks to the intense dedication of master instructor Don Krause. Very few communities in the nation offer the quality of instruction, the personal attention, and the numerous concerts that Don Krause provides. One of my sons took up the French horn a few years ago, and I've been amazed at what has happened in his life. Many students here get serious opportunities to excel. It's wonderful. E-mail Don at ddkrause@ameritech.net.
In spite of being a small town, Appleton has a lot of sophistication. Both the Performing Arts Center and Lawrence University bring a lot of culture into town, but there is plenty of local musical and artistic talent, along with outstanding music instruction and numerous performance opportunities for students. Music seems to be taken pretty seriously in Appleton, along with other arts.
One of the interesting things about Appleton is the large number of bars in the area. Along College Avenue, it seems like you don't have to stumble more than 10 or 20 steps to get from one bar to another to another to another. I moved here from Provo, Utah, which had one true bar that I knew of (surely I missed a few!) for a population not much less than Appleton's. It was culture shock, in a sense, to come to a place that ranks in the national top 10 for bars per capita (Appleton was sixth in the 1980 census, with most of the top 10 occupied by other Wisconsin cities). But in spite of the temptation, Appletonians seem to be remarkably sober and responsible, in my opinion. And I've found people to be kind and understanding of those who don't drink.
Smoking is a different story. Appleton has a strict no-smoking law that bans smoking in workplaces, including restaurants and bars. This new law is the bane of many bar and restaurant owners, who say that it drives business to surrounding towns that don't have the ban. It's a controversial law that passed by referendum in 2005. Personally, I don't smoke and appreciate the fresh air of Appleton, but I voted against the ban out of concern for private property rights. If your dream is to puff away your life in a bar, Appleton might not be the ideal place for now - but there's always nearby Menasha or Neenah.
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- Appleton is where Harry Houdini grew up. He was born in 1874 in Budapest as Eric Weiss, then brought to Appleton in his infancy. Internationally known as an escape artist and a magician, the Houdini name remains prominent in this area (e.g., the Houdini Historical Center, the Houdini Chapter of the Society of Young Magicians, Houdini Elementary School, Houdini Plaza). Annual efforts to reach the spirit of Harry Houdini in seances have failed so far (a group really tries this every year - I think on Halloween). Maybe he doesn't have call waiting. (Also see "A Harry Houdini Tribute.")
- Recently, Appleton has become an epicenter for magic
and illusion as part of the incredible Houdini Days magic
festival, held in honor of Appleton's own Harry Houdini. The 2004 Houdini Days
event (Sept. 2-5, 2004) was amazing. The next event will probably be 2006. For
photos and my comments, see my page of photos from Houdini Days
in Appleton and Jeff Lindsay's page of magic.
- As a center of the papermaking industry, Appleton
hosts the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame,
celebrating the accomplishments of major stars from industry and academia. I
attended the 2002 Hall of Fame dinner, and came away truly impressed at the
lives and accomplishments of recent inductees. The building for the Hall of
Fame is the old Atlas Mill on the Fox River.
- Appleton's Fox Valley Technical College began in
1917 as the first school in the United States exclusively dedicated to
vocational education.
- Appleton's Lawrence University is the second
oldest coeducational college in America.
- Maury Laws may be one of the more famous people from
Appleton. He was the music director for many movies, TV shows, etc. He
directed the music for Frosty the Snow Man, The Hobbit, Santa Claus is
Coming to Town, and many more. His web site is www.maurylaws.com. He moved away to Hollywood but now
lives in the heart of Appleton once again. Welcome back, Maury, and thanks for
your significant accomplishments!
- Senator Joseph McCarthy got his political start in
this area. A bust of him is on display in the Outagamie Museum.
- Author Edna Ferber moved here in her youth and
graduated from high school in Appleton. (An elementary school is named for
her.)
- John Bradley, a man from Appleton, is one of the
soldiers raising the flag in the famous photo from Iwo Jima in 1945. His son,
James, is author of the best-selling book, Flags of
our Fathers, which deals with the lives of the six men in that photo. John
Bradley died in 1994, the last of the six to pass away.
- Author Gladys Taber, who wrote many books and was
once a regular columnist for several magazines, grew up in Appleton and
graduated from Appleton High School.
- Billie Pirner Garde is an Appleton native who is a
well-known activist and attorney for workers rights. According to e-mail from
her daughter, "her team managed to prevent at least one nuclear facility from
becoming another Russian Chernobyl incident."
- Appleton had the nation's first hydroelectric station
which opened on Sept. 30, 1882, providing 12.5 kilowatts to light two paper
mills and a home (see The Evolution of Hydropower). The facility can still
be seen along the riverside down on the "flats" behind Lawrence
University). The first home with electric power, the Hearthstone, is now a
historical site open for regular tours. (For more info, call 920-730-8204.)
- Appleton also had the first electric cable car
(running along College Avenue), and the first hotel with all electric
lighting.
- Appleton claims to have the nation's first enclosed
shopping mall, the Valley Fair Mall at 2145 S. Memorial Drive. (But I am told
that Watertown, New York, may have a more legitimate claim to this honor.)
- The American Standard Band (formerly the Chris Aaron
band) had roots in Appleton. Chris Aaron, who plays lead guitar, grew up in
this area and currently lives in Appleton with his wife and child. Other band
members include Corey Sterling, Matt Miller, Dave Schoepke, and Adam
Berzowski. In 1996, Jim Sonefeld of Hootie & the Blowfish said, "I just
heard the best band I ever heard in my life...."
- The Cool Waters Band also has Appleton
roots, with 75% of the group being from Appleton.
- The Appleton area was where Steve DeDecker performed
on stage as a singer (he's also a songwriter) from 1969-1992. The Steve
DeDecker Band, with Steve and Susan DeDecker and Bruce Siebers on lead guitar
and harmonies, is now performing in this area. Send e-mail to Steve at Sdedecker1@wmconnect.com,
or see www.stevededecker.com.
- I should also mention Michael
Murphy, who leads Michael Murphy and the Men Of Blues. Michael has
recorded live locally (two of his CDs were recorded in town) and has many ties
to the Appleton area. Welcome, Michael! He can often be seen playing and
singing at the Appleton Farmer's Market, downtown, early on a Saturday
morning. He tells me he will be there every Saturday during October.
- Angela Murphy, wife of Michael Murphy, is a celebrity
in the beading community and winner of a first prize award in a 2004 national
beading show. She was featured in the October 2004 edition of Bead and Button Magazine (page 32). Her Website is Earthspeaks.biz.
- Rocky Bleier, a football star, grew up in Appleton
and was a star player at Xavier High School. After serving (and being injured)
in the Vietnam War, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers (I guess football looked
easy after Nam!). He was in the National Football League for 12 years . His
story is told in a book (Fighting Back) and a TV
movie. Trim B's
Restaurant (see Good Places to Eat below) was once "Bleier's Bar."
- Alex Rodriguez (a.k.a. "Arod") played for the
Appleton Foxes for a season before going to the Seattle Mariners.
- Tony Kubek is another famous name from baseball who
lived in Appleton for many years, though he was a native of Milwaukee (a large
suburb of Appleton, about 100 miles to the south). With the New York Yankees,
he was rookie of the year in 1957, played on six World Series teams, and was
in three All-Star games. He was also a well-known broadcaster for NBC in the
1970s. After achieving fame, he moved to Appleton. I think he's still here.
- Speaking of baseball, major league umpire Jerry Davis
is from Appleton.
- Speaking of sports, Appleton was honored in 1986 as
"Sports City USA" by Sports Illustrated (you know,
the swimsuit magazine for lonely men that occasionally features stories on
sports?). Appleton was featured on the cover.
- Blane Reichelt, the recently retired NBA referee widely
viewed as one of the best NBA refs in the game, was from Appleton. He retired
in 2005 after 24 seasons with the NBA. Great work, Blane!
- Lan Samantha Chang, an Appleton native and prominent
writer of fiction, has received a lot of press recently after being appointed
as director of the nation's most prestigious writing program, the University
of Iowa's Writers' Workshop. She is a professor at Harvard University (the
East Coast answer to Appleton's Lawrence University). You may wish to read an interview with Ms. Chang.
- Greta Van Susteren, another graduate of Xavier High
School and daughter of an Outagamie County judge (Urban Van Susteren), has
became quite a TV celebrity. She was an on-air analyst for CNN during the O.J.
Simpson trial, then had her own show, "Burden of Proof," and has recently
joined FOX.
- Doug Yankus and his band "Soup" were famous all over
Wisconsin (at least) in the late 60s and early 70s. They were from Appleton.
- Lou and Peter Berryman are famous folk singers from
Appleton.
- Actor Willem Dafoe of Green Goblin fame began his
career acting with the local Attic Theatre. He was a student body
vice president in middle school here, I've been told by the candidate who lost
to him.
- Actor Campbell Scott (who, I am told, was in Dying Young with Julia Roberts) is a Lawrence
alumnus, and has even come back and lectured at Lawrence, where he also serves
on the board of trustees. He is the son of George Campbell Scott (Patton) and
Colleen Dewhurst.
- Terry Meeuwsen was Miss America in 1973. Before that
she was Miss Appleton and then Miss Wisconsin (Wisconsin's only Miss America
in the 50-plus years of that pageant). She has recently cohosted Pat
Robertson's "The 700 Club."
- Singer and actress Lynn Kellogg came from Appleton. She was in the
original Broadway cast of "Hair" and costarred with Elvis Presley in "Charro!"
- Linda Butler, an outstanding photographer noted for
her fine black and whites, hails from Appleton.
- Ellen Kort, an award winning poet and speaker, hails
from Appleton.
- Rob Brackenridge, a well-known comedian, is an
Appleton native now living on the West Coast.
- LaVahn G. Hoh, born in Appleton, is currently a Drama
Professor at the University of Virginia and (according to his brother) is the
only professor in the country who teaches a class on the "History of the
Circus." Co-author of Step Right Up, a history of
the circus. Also the historian for Ringling Brothers, and the Walenda family
of high wire aerialists. He's been featured in People magazine and has done
several productions for A&E and the History Channel.
- Professor Mark Dintenfass of Lawrence University
English professor has published several many of fiction and has done numerous
book reviews for the New York Times.
- Dale Duesing is a well-known opera star and graduate
of Lawrence University. He lives in Appleton for part of the year.
- Judah Bauer, guitarist for the very popular national
new wave/blues band, The John Spencer Blues Explosion, grew up in Appleton and
went to Appleton East High School (go East!).
- Mike Lowe, Editor in Chief for Madison's weekly The Onion,
came from Appleton. This spoof paper used to be just something enjoyed by
southern Wisconsinites but now is internationally popular.
- Mark Stewart, lead guitarist and cellist for Paul
Simon, grew up in Appleton. You'll see his name on many of Paul Simon's solo
CDs. I understand that his father was a head pastor at the Episcopal Church at
College and Drew.
- Larry W. Stephenson, M.D., is the Ford-Webber
professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery for
Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He is also chief of
Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Detroit Medical Center and Harper Hospital.
Besides having a busy clinical practice, he has authored or co-authored more
than 270 scientific articles and book chapters and three medical books. Dr.
Stephenson was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and attended college and medical
school at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Way to go, Dr. Stephenson!
- Other professional athletes with Appleton ties
include J.P. Hayes (pro golfer), Ron Kostelnik (defensive lineman from the
Packers in the 1960s), and Don Werner (former backup catcher with the
Cincinnati Reds).
- Appleton draws lots of artists each year for its Art in the Park 2004 festival (the link is
for my photos from 2004).
Another source of local fame is Appleton's parades! For a small town, we're pretty big
on parades and enjoy some fame for a few of them. We hold the nation's largest
Flag Day parade and the nation's largest Christmas parade, held on an evening a
couple weeks before Christmas in weather that we affectionately term "bitter
cold." We also have an unusual early-morning Memorial Day Parade with all the
high schools showing off their marching bands. Besides the hundreds of parents
proudly watching their children march by, literally dozens of other interested
people attended this year's Memorial Day Parade at 9:00 AM. You can see some of
Appleton's stalwart youth marching by in my page of photos from Appleton.
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"Paper Valley"
Appleton and the Fox Cities are well known for significant paper mills. Indeed, the area was nicknamed the Paper Valley because of the significant presence of major paper companies such as Kimberly-Clark, Wisconsin Tissue Mills, Menasha Corporation, Appleton (formerly Appleton Paper), and many others.
Before the paper mills came here near the turn of the century, the Fox River powered mills for flour and woolen goods. Wheat crop failure caused farmers to convert to the dairy business, and many of the mills were converted to paper production. Wisconsin soon became the leading paper producer in the nation, although in recent years that honor has shifted to the South (I think Georgia owns it now, for the much longer growing season makes the land more productive for forest products industries). The paper industry remains dominant, but other industries are making important contributions. These include finance, insurance, food services, dairy products, and others.
Here are some specific institutions and businesses of
note:
- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Formerly Aid
Association for Lutherans (AAL), Thrivent is a large insurance group employing
1,600 people at the Appleton office. They interact closely with the community
and have a great reputation for taking care of their employees. Their Appleton
office on the north side of town (visible from Highway 41 between the Ballard
and Richmond exits, on the north side of the highway) is one of the most
beautiful buildings in the area - and it offers a world-class day care
facility for employees.
- Oscar J. Boldt Construction - A large national
construction firm that has been an important part of Appleton for many years.
Boldt Construction volunteered its expertise in rebuilding Oklahoma City after
the bombing, and has done much to support the community. The owner, Tom Boldt,
enjoys magic and supports the local Society of Young Magicians - something
else which impresses me.
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation -- This major corporation
employees many hundreds of people in Appleton and the surrounding community.
K-C, of course, is the producer of products such as Huggies® diapers, Kotex®
feminine care products, Kleenex® brand facial
tissue, Scott® towels, and so
forth. K-C has many offices and production facilities in the Fox Valley,
including the large research and engineering campus on Winchester Road in
Neenah where I work. The company, naturally, is heavily involved in community
activities and programs, helping to make a difference in the lives of many
people.
- Appleton -- formerly Appleton Papers Inc., this is a
leading high-tech paper company that developed carbonless copy paper. The
microencapsulation technology behind carbonless copies is simply a marvel of
modern science and engineering, in my opinion. This company has a strong
research component to keep them in the lead technically. A lot of excellent
people (4,200 employees) keep this company strong!
- Appleton Mills - a major manufacturer of wires and
fabrics for papermaking. They recently acquired Lindsay Wire with high-tech
mills in Alabama and Florence, Mississippi, greatly increasing Appleton Mills'
ability to offer novel and high tech fabrics to the paper industry.
- Appleton Wire Division (of Albany International) -
also a leading manufacturer of the sophisticated wires and fabrics that are
essential for modern papermaking. There are some outstanding people on AWD's
sales and technical staffs.
- SMTC Formerly Pensar Corp. It is a large firm
specializing in production of electronic components. Thanks to a few
well-placed spies, I have learned that its local leaders are great citizens,
doing many kind and quiet things for people in the community. Way to go!
- Pierce Manufacturing - leading producers of fire
fighting equipment, especially fire engines. They export their vehicles around
the world and provide jobs for many hundreds of people in this area.
- The John Birch Society - Headquarters of this
conservative non-profit group are located in Appleton. Membership is around
50,000. JBS describes itself as an educational organization dedicated to
preserving the Constitution and working for less government. Their Trim
Bulletin report card for Congressional voting is especially interesting.
JBS is expanding its facilities in Appleton, adding an educational facility
called "Robert Welch University." JBS publishes The New American
magazine, which is creating quite a stir for providing controversial
information about such issues as Chinagate and the Oklahoma City bombing.
- The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region -
a tax-exempt public charity established in 1986 to manage funds to support
charitable causes for the benefit of the community. During fiscal year
1999-2000, more than $6 million dollars in grants was awarded to nonprofit
organizations to help solve community problems and to address opportunities
for improvement in the areas of human services, arts and culture, health care,
education and community development.
- Fox River Paper Company - a leading manufacturer of
premium writing, text and cover papers, and a company with real expertise in
the area of watermarks. Founded in 1883 and located in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Their CEO, Bob Buchanan of Appleton, was named 2000 Executive of the Year by
PIMA (Paper Industry Management Association).
- School Specialty - the nation's largest
distributor of school supplies and a major employer in the area. School
Specialty does over $800 million of business each year. Corporate headquarters
are in Appleton, with 25 locations throughout the US.
- Miller Electric - a large company with hundreds of
employees, producing goods related to welding, electrical work, and more. They
are national leaders in the area of arc welding.
- Marathon Engineering - an engineering group in the
paper industry owned by Jaakko Poyry, the world's largest consulting firm in
the forest products industries.
- McCain USA Foods - a Canadian food
processing and distribution company that employs hundreds in the Appleton
area.
- SECURA Insurance - a large insurance company
headquartered in Appleton.
- FOCOL - Fox Communities Online, offering lots of
information on this area (events, businesses, etc.).
- The Post-Crescent - The major newspaper
of Appleton and surrounding cities, providing coverage since 1853. In several
categories it is ranked as #1 in Wisconsin. They have some very good
journalists and a hard-working staff. They generally show a sincere effort to
be balanced in dealing with highly charged political and moral issues. E-mail
them at pcnews@smgpo.gannett.com.
- The Valley Scene - A monthly arts, entertainment and
events magazine for the Fox Cities. The Scene has about 66,000 readers every
month. This publication is available FREE at any one of over 300 locations
throughout the Valley. Their Web site is great, featuring detailed listings of
events, reviews of restaurants, and more.
- WHBY Radio, 1150 AM
- Other local business with web pages - a
list sponsored by FOCOL (Fox Cities Online).
- Oh, I almost forgot: Athenet.
This Appleton organization offers one of the best Internet services ever. I
can't believe how much I get for just $20 a month!
In addition to
these big businesses, Appleton has a lot of growth in small businesses. Let me
just mention two newcomers where I had positive experiences in 2004:
CartridgeWorld (a place to save roughly 50% on the cost
of inks and toner) and KaBloom (a flower shop), both just west of Wal-Mart in
Darboy. I review these two new businesses with others on my page, "
A Consumer's Guide to Appleton."
2005 update: The more I
think about it, the more I'm beginning to realize that much of the heart and
soul of Appleton is found in the small businesses we have rather the big
corporations (although I'm grateful to the latter - they clearly play a huge
role in shaping our community and one of them even gives me a monthly
paycheck!). I'll be gradually adding information about some of our small
businesses as well. Here is one that was just called to my attention: Sun Flower Spa at 1004 South Olde Oneida Street. Lovely
Website and an interesting place - looks like a nice addition to the community.
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- Lawrence University - a private university with an
outstanding reputation and a beautiful campus, drawing students from nearly
every state of the US plus over 30 foreign countries. Founded by the Wisconsin
territorial legislature in 1847, it has been coeducational since its founding
and is the second oldest coeducational college in the U.S. In 1964,
Milwaukee-Downer College in Milwaukee consolidated with Lawrence, thus merging
the traditions of an established coeducational institution with a highly
regarded women's college. Lawrence University is a source of numerous cultural
events for the community. The music offerings rival that of many larger cities
and larger universities.
- Fox Valley Technical College - a
college providing training in many career-related areas. It began in 1917,
becoming the first school dedicated exclusively for vocational education. (I
really enjoyed a defensive driving course I took there. Spinning out of
control on slick pavement was especially fun!)
- University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley - A significant
institution in the UW system, UW-Fox Valley sits on 41 acres of land and
boasts 1,782 students. It hosts the world-class Barlow Planetarium and the
state's official mineralogical museum, the Weis
Earth Science Museum.
- Appleton Area School District
- Appleton East High School - Go East!
- Appleton North High School - Appleton's
newest high school is a real beauty.
- Appleton West High School
- Fox Valley Lutheran High School
- Xavier High School - a large Catholic
high school in Appleton.
- The Classical School - This new charter
school is a public school that began successful operation in the Fall of 1999.
With over 300 students in grades K-8, it offers what many parents have long
wanted: an education based on academic achievement with intensive phonics, a
classical curriculum, and direct instruction. Kids learn a foreign language
(Spanish) in every grade level. My wife, Kendra Lindsay, was a key driving
force that made this dream become a reality. Many kudos to Kendra and to Dr.
Tom Scullen, Superintendent of the Appleton School District, and the School
Board, for sharing the vision that gave life to this charter school. And
thanks to the many other board members, administrators, teachers, and parents
that have made it what it is.
- Renaissance School for the Arts - A
charter school in the Appleton Area School District with about 140 students in
grades 9-12. In their half-day program, the RSA offers classes in topics such
as dance, theater, visual arts, music, media arts, play and screen writing,
poetry, etc.
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Appleton offers many attractions besides just going to a movie or eating out, and I list some of these below. But if you are thinking about a movie, you can check current offerings for several local theaters. A very useful area-wide tool is
Google's Movie Search for the Appleton
area (or
the Post-Crescent's Movie Search). Here is information
for specific theaters:
And now Appleton is proud to boast a truly big
screen in
the Big Picture Theater. This new
large-screen theater, similar to the IMAX in Milwaukee, hosts a variety of
family-friendly films, including some documentaries dealing with nature, travel,
and exploration. Also check out their many
promotions.
For more fun in Appleton, please consider these options:
- Fox Cities
Trails
There are several beautiful trails in
the Fox Cities area ideal for biking or walking. A favorite of mine is the
trail along the south side of the Fox River between Telulah Park and Law
Street near the Oneida Flats region. So scenic! We are also thrilled to have a
new walkway that crosses beautiful Lake Butte des Morts, the new Fox Cities Trestle Friendship Trail
that just opened Aug. 27, 2005, connecting Menasha to the Town of Menasha on
the other side of the lake. The Menasha side of the trail starts at the west
end of Broad Street, crossing the lake along what used to be a railroad
trestle bridge that lands in the Town of Menasha at Fritse Park, and then
continues westward on existing trails. I have some photos of the new Trestle Trail on a page of 2005
photos from the Fox Cities. Additional information about the Trestle Trail is
provided by FOCOL.org.
- The Fox
Cities Children's Museum
The Fox Cities
Children's Museum is the premier interactive children's museum in the state
and perhaps in the entire Midwest. It has 27,000 square feet of hands-on
exploration and discovery, with fun for children and adults. It offers
displays and activities that teach children about such topics as the human
body (with a stunning giant human heart that kids can climb into and slide out
of!), electricity, wildlife, rocks, bubbles, fire trucks, various occupations,
art, other cultures, music, machines, etc. In late 1996, an exciting new
"Allergy Arcade" opened that provides interactive insight into the world of
allergies. My kids are itching to go again! More recently a new Solar Exhibit
has been added to teach kids about solar energy. The museum is a tribute to
the concern and dedication of private citizens who pulled together to design,
create, and fund the project. Through their efforts, a downtown mall (and the
Appleton downtown area itself) that was on the verge of dying (as happens to
many small towns when suburban malls move in) was revitalized. Today downtown
Appleton is a vibrant place, with the spacious Children's Museum as its crown
jewel. In late 1997, the Museum opened its own well designed Web site, now
with a new domain name: www.kidmuseum.org. Take a look!
Fox Cities Children's Museum, Inc. 100 College Avenue,
Appleton, WI 54911.
Phone: 734-3226, Hours: Monday to
Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: noon-5 p.m. Admission
for visitors is $4.00. Infants (under 1 year) are free. (A family pass is $60
a year - a bargain for many families.)
- The Paper Discovery Center
Bringing the world of paper to life, the Paper Discovery
Center is an exciting place to learn about the history of paper, how it is
made, and what the paper industry is all about. This beautiful center is in
the old Atlas Mill of Appleton, and also houses the Paper Industry
International Hall of Fame. The facility offers tours with interactive
exhibits and many displays. It's popular for students and tourists, but more
locals should go check it out. It represents a vital part of the Valley's
heritage. Admission is $4.00 for adults, $2 for students (including college
students), and $10 for families. Open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Closed Mondays.
- Fox
Cities Performing Arts Center
One of the
biggest events recently for Appleton has been the construction of a large
performing arts center in the heart of the city. Many great performances will
be coming our way. Investing in this center was a controversial decision. Were
we too ambitious to take on such a project? Can we draw large enough audiences
to keep the center alive? Absolutely! The Center is alive and thriving. (A
couple of photos from inside are available on my page of more photos from Appleton 2004.)
- Appleton Parks
Compared to other parts of the country, Appleton has a
high number of high quality parks. (Perhaps that helps explain the high
taxes!) These parks are well kept and offer many facilities, including public
swimming, baseball and soccer fields, picnic areas, river front beauty, well
appointed playgrounds, nature trails, etc. My favorite parks include: City
Park (8 acres that throb with the beauty of mature trees), Memorial Park (138
acres, including a small lake for canoeing and the Arboretum and Gardens
described below), Pierce Park (38 acres, marvelous trees, ideal picnic spots,
a beautiful view of the river, and lots of activities), Telulah Park (27
acres, has an old steam locomotive for young children to admire and offers
some beautiful walks and good fishing down on the river) and Mead Park (fine
swimming pool, a good playground, 8.5 acres). You can see photos of nearly all
of our parks on a remarkably helpful Website, Jim Froeming's Trivia Asylum Presents Appleton's Parks
and Places for parks and places in and around Appleton -- what a kind
service!
Just north of Appleton is Plamann Park, a 257-acre
marvel that began with 147 acres donated to Outagamie County by Robert
Plamann. This park includes a swimming lake, several good playgrounds, a great
Frisbee golf course (27 holes), picnic shelters, baseball diamonds, tennis
courts, delightful nature trails and an 18-station fitness trail. Lots of
wooded land invites hiking. In winter there is cross-country skiing,
snowmobile trails, a sledding hill, an ice rink, and a heated shelter. There
is also a children's farm that enables kids to see what farm life is like in
Wisconsin. For info, call (920) 832-4790 (general), 832-4900 (lake), or
779-6433 (nature center). (Source: Points of Interest in the Telecom USA
1994/95 phone book, page 33.)
-
Memorial Park Memorial Park Arboretum and Gardens
You'll find this in Appleton's huge Memorial Park (take
the Ballard Road exit south from Highway 41 - you'll see a park entrance on
the right in a few blocks before you get to Northland Avenue). They have a
learning center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin architect group.
Admission is free at the moment. There are beautiful gardens featuring native
species and areas for walking. A water garden is being built. The entire site
is about 30 acres. The building is available for a fee for weddings and other
activities. They have a popular breakfast show on Saturday mornings and a
farmers market in season.
The lovely Arboretum and Gardens includes
beautiful murals by Shelley Grund in -- of all places -- the men's restroom and women's restroom. Don't miss these! (Well, maybe you
should just pick one to view.)
-
High Cliff State
Park
Sunset on Lake Winnebago from High Cliff Park,
taken by J.L. on May 31, 2004. |
Just a few
minutes out of Appleton, this state park is at the north end of Lake
Winnebago. It offers a marina, a public beach, a huge play area with
playground equipment and plenty of room for picnicking, Frisbee, or simple
relaxation. Above the beach is the cliffs area with more recreational
opportunities such as rock climbing, camping, nature trails, and a walking
tour of ancient Indian burial mounds from the Copper Culture civilization. I
love the diversity of plants and trees. One of my highlights of last summer
was gathering a few handfuls of wild grapes and wild crab apples that provided
tart and tasty jelly. (Maybe I have a dull life, but it seemed exciting at the
time, perhaps because it's so hard to get jelly to turn out well.)
-
The Barlow Planetarium
This new planetarium at the University of
Wisconsin-Fox Valley is a world-class facility with a 50-foot dome, giant
full-color special effects and five channel surround sound. Experience rich
presentations about our universe with beautiful graphics and 3-D effects. The
planetarium features an Evans and Sutherland Digistar II star projector, a
true state-of-the-art system. There are also interactive keypads at each seat
to enable audience participation in performances. Seats 98 people, with four
extra spaces available for wheelchairs. Great for parties and corporate
events, also. Cost is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and children under 12. For
information, call (920) 832-2848. 1478 Midway Road, Menasha (close to the
south border of Appleton).
-
Weis
Earth Science Museum
A wonderful museum
including many beautiful specimens of minerals and rocks from Wisconsin and
other places. Low admission - $2 for adults. 1478 Midway Road, Menasha. Call
(920) 832-2925 for general info or (920) 832-2868 to scheduling a group tour.
Right next to the Barlow Planetarium at UW Fox Valley.
-
The Appleton Public
Library
Such a library! It puts my previous
local library in Atlanta to shame. A tremendous selection of books, magazines,
newspapers, audio and video tapes, compact disks, etc. The staff is friendly
and competent. My favorite features include excellent foreign language
materials, several cases of science fiction, and a whole floor of children's
materials. Why go anywhere else for fun?
-
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Baseball
Enjoy fine minor league baseball with the Timber Rattlers
in the new Fox Valley Stadium. I recommend the comfortable $4 seats in the
grass fields rather than the $5 bleachers. Office Address: 2400 North Casaloma
Dr., Grand Chute, WI 54915. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 464, Appleton, WI 54912.
Telephone: (920) 733-4152. FAX: (920) 733-8032. In addition to the excellent
Timber Rattlers
Home Page, you can also get summarized information from the Minor League
Baseball page for the Rattlers.
-
Badger Sports
Park
A fun place for go-cart racing,
miniature golf, and batting cages. Open May to mid-October. W3225 Vanroy Road,
Appleton (a few blocks east of Highway 441 on Highway CE). Phone: (920)
830-6900. Open May to mid-October. (Another place for go-carting is Funland
Go-Karting, 1423 Green Valley Rd., Neenah, (920) 725-7347.)
-
The
YMCA
A great organization providing many
activities for families and individuals. Lots of young people enjoy hanging
out at the Y. Enjoy swimming and many other sports as well as numerous special
activities. There are several facilities in the Valley, with one in
downtown Appleton, another just west of Appleton, and another in nearby
Neenah. (I helped perform in a recent magic night in Neenah - lots of fun with
some great kids.)
-
Abracadabra Magic Shop
Appleton's magic shop just moved to 508 West College
Avenue. Drop in and become astounding. The shop is run by Rondini (a.k.a. Ron
Lindberg), an excellent professional magician in the Fox Cities. Call
920-830-8754 to reach the shop or try 920-731-3553 to book Rondini. (Rondini,
by the way, has served as a volunteer teaching magic to local kids in the
Society of Young Magicians. Thanks, Rondini!)
My son Daniel climbing a wall at Vertical
Stronghold, August 2004. |
-
Indoor Rock Climbing
at Vertical Stronghold
Vertical Stronghold is a premier indoor climbing center
offering hours of fun, adventure, and great physical activity for climbers at
any skill level. Located at 719 W. Frances Street, this facility offers a
bouldering room (including a bouldering cave) for climbing without ropes, and
a large room with 35-foot artificial climbing walls for simulated mountain
climbing on textured surfaces. There are many climbing routes available,
including routes with overhangs and other demanding structures. For one of my
most exciting activities in Appleton, I took a group of 11 young men (mostly
16-18 years old) plus my own family (four kids ages 4 to 13 and my wife) to
Vertical Stronghold for a class in rock climbing, including the use of ropes
(belaying, for ages 13 and up). We had two excellent instructors who worked
well with the group and made our experience productive and enjoyable. Even my
4-year old had fun climbing in choice spots in the bouldering room. I came
away weary, humbled, and anxious to return.... Call 734-0321 for information.
-
Outagamie Museum and Houdini Historical
Center
Hosted by the Outagamie Historical Society, this museum in downtown
Appleton features a permanent exhibit on the life of Harry Houdini. I
especially enjoyed the display of numerous handcuffs that were collected by
Houdini. The museum is also the site of regular magic shows during the summer.
Their Website now features a virtual tour of the Houdini exhibit.
In addition to the outstanding Harry Houdini
collection, another permanent exhibit is "Tools of Change: The Work, Workers,
and Tools of the Lower Fox River Valley, 1840-1950." Well done. A new
interactive exhibit is A Child's View of Papermaking.
The museum is located in a beautiful old stone
building at 330 East College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911. Phone (920) 733-8445.
Closed Mondays. Admission for adults is $4, $2 for children ages 5-17, $3.50
for seniors and $10.00 for families. Well worth it - especially if you're able
to catch a magic show. (I saw local magician Bruce Hetzler perform - nice job!
I really enjoy magic.)
- Music in
Appleton
There are many musical groups and
recitals in the area. Lawrence University features numerous free faculty
recitals and student performances. Musical groups at Lawrence include the
Opera Theatre, the Concert Choir, the Pride of the Valley Chorus, and the
Jazz Singers, with performances for all held in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.
Call 920-832-6749 (box office) or 832-6585 (Lawrence Public Events Office) for
information. Appleton is enriched by the Fox
Valley Symphony and several very high quality performances during the year
(call 729-5000). The White Heron Chorale offers semi-professional
mixed-voice chorale with selections ranging from classical to contemporary
(call 920-832-9700). The Appleton MacDowell Male Chorus puts on
4 local concerts plus nationwide performances. Awesome! Call 920-730-1618. In
addition, the Appleton Boychoir puts on some marvelous performance
(call 920-739-1689 for information). Other groups include the Foxvalleyaires
Barbershop Chorus (757-6153) and the Geriatric Jazz Group (734-5043). One
useful source of information about the arts in this area is FoxArts.net
by Rob Konitzer. Thanks, Rob!
One example of fun musical activities in Appleton is
the Lunchtime Organ Recital Series, a great
tradition in Appleton since 1995. It provides free 30 minute "lunchtime" organ
recitals during the summer months highlighting the many fine pipe organs in
our area. They occur each Wednesday during June, July and August. An
additional recital is planned on Tuesday, July 26, 2005. As Frank Rippl,
coordinator of the program, writes, "Each concert program gives historical
data on the instrument (e.g. the rear gallery organ in Lawrence Chapel was
built in 1906 and originally stood in Temple Zion on Durkee Street) and the
building in which it stands. The performers, professional organists all, are
mostly from the area, with some coming from other places. The concerts provide
a great refreshing escape from the florescent world most of us inhabit to a
world of stained glass and quiet refuge. The music encompasses much of the
enormous body of literature that is unique to the pipe organ - an instrument
Mozart called 'The King of Instruments.'" Frank can be contacted at frippl at athenet.net.
- The
Appleton Art Center
A beautiful art gallery
and a place to stay connected with the arts community. Founded in 1960, the
Appleton Art Center recently moved to an expanded location (25,000 square
feet) at 111 W. College Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Appleton. Call
them at (920) 733-4089 to learn about exhibitions and events. Join them on
Friday evenings for live music or other events. I found the staff to be very
friendly and knowledgeable. This is an ideal place for a cheap but meaningful
date with your spouse, significant other, or potential significant other, or a
great place to visit by yourself. They've also got a new Web site at http://www.appletonartcenter.org. In general, the
arts are very strong in Appleton. One example is our annual Art in the Park festival.
- The
Attic Theatre
A local theatre with some
outstanding performances.
- Appleton Family
History Center
Interested in genealogy or
family history? Explore the extensive records and huge CD genealogy database
for free at the Appleton Family History Center at 425 W. Park Ridge, Appleton.
You'll get free training and assistance - and might even run into your
Webmaster there on some Wednesdays. The Family History Library is made
available by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS" for
short) and is physically located in their Appleton church building, but it is
available to and used by people of all faiths. For more information, contact
MarjCrane@aol.com or call (920)
733-5358 (you may need to try a couple of different days to find a time when
people are staffing the library). The mailing address is Fox Valley
Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1592, Appleton, WI 54913-1592. It is typically
open on Tuesdays, Wednesday evenings, and Friday mornings. (For genealogy on
the Web, try FamilySearch.org, RootsWeb.com, or Helms' Genealogy
Toolbox.)
-
Golf - Numerous
Courses!
I'm not a golfer, but Appleton has got
to be golf paradise. There must be nearly a dozen courses within a 30 minute
drive of downtown Appleton. With so much grass in the area, it's no wonder
that Appleton hosts the global headquarters of National Lawn Care Now!
-
Octoberfest
For one
weekend each fall (the one with the last Saturday in September), Appleton is
the site of a spectacular Octoberfest celebration. About one mile of College
Avenue in downtown Appleton is lined with booths, exhibits, games, and
entertainment. Over 100,000 people from all over the state show up for fun,
food, and festivity. See my page of Octoberfest photos from
2004. For many groups, Octoberfest is a major fund raising opportunity.
(Next time, drop by and watch my son and me making delicious Tiger Paws, a
scone-like treat and a veritable Octoberfest tradition that has helped dozens
of youth in my church go to Scout Camp and Girls Camp.) Octoberfest - it's a
mile of fun! For more information, see Octoberfest Online.
-
Try a
Bookstore!
Appleton has some great bookstores.
One that is truly part of Appleton's history and culture is Conkey's
Bookstore at 226 E. College Avenue. Started in 1896, it is Wisconsin's
oldest independent bookstore. It also hosts poetry readings, and local music
and art talent, in the "Between the Pages" coffee shop. Edna Ferber used to
frequent Conkey's when she was a reporter, and she gathered information about
local politics and news there. They have also been a faithful supporter of
community events and of the arts.
For children's books, please visit The Children's
Bookshop at 212 E. College. Say hi to owner Vay Elisberg and tell her Jeff
Lindsay sent you! For used books, try Shenandoah Books at 133 E. Wisconsin
Avenue. We also have a huge Barnes and Noble store, as well as a number of
smaller bookstores scattered around the valley.
-
Movie
Theaters
The Appleton area has a variety of
movie theaters. One of the most popular is Regal Theaters on College Avenue in
Kimberly, just a few blocks east of Highway 441, on the south side of the
street. There are also cinemas in the Fox River Mall (west of Highway 41 and
north of College Avenue) and in the Valley Fair Mall (Highway 47 and Calumet
Street, on the south side of town). The Valley Fair Mall cinema generally has
the lowest prices. Hollywood Cinema is on Westhill Boulevard, north of College
Avenue near Woodman's market, just east of Highway 41.
-
Gordon Bubolz
Nature Center
This nature preserve offers
782 acres of northern white cedar forest, lowland hardwood forest, as well as
meadows and ponds with an eight-mile trail system. Guided hikes, workshops,
and speakers are offered at various times. Call 920-731-6041 for information.
It's a 4815 North Lynndale Drive, Appleton (County Highway A).
-
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve
Some would call this a mosquito-infested swamp to be
avoided, but I really enjoy the trails through this forested wetland area. The
plant life to be seen in the summer is spectacular, in my opinion. This living
museum has 72 acres plus a new 4,000 square-foot Nature Center with a "Living
Waters" exhibit with local fish, salamanders, frogs, and other creatures. And
the mounted creatures on display are worth the visit on their own - especially
the majestic lake sturgeon. The Reserve is also a great place for a corporate
meeting or workshop. A real gem. (I've been involved in some Eagle Scout
projects there - fun!) I also understand 9,000 kids came there with school
groups in 2005. Located on Highway 114 between Oneida Street and Highway 47,
next to Lake Winnebago and Brighton Beach Road. Open 6 AM to 9 PM year-round.
The Center is closed Mondays and has hours of 8 AM to 4:30 PM Tuesday to
Friday, 11 AM to 4 PM Saturday and Sunday. Call ahead: (920) 720-9349.
-
Soccer
Soccer is big in Appleton. We've got some large, well
maintained fields and well organized groups. The Appleton Soccer Club is a
great organization offering loads of soccer fun for Appleton youth. They can
be reached at (920)-730-2456, or write P.O. Box 1444, Appleton, WI 54913.
-
Skating
The Appleton area offers numerous opportunities for
roller skating, skate boarding, and ice skating. There are several free
outdoor skate board parks with ramps, jumps, and other hazards. One that I've
seen used a lot is at Telulah Park. For more serious skate boarding, Area 51
is the place to go. They also offer in-line skates and BMX bikes. Area 51's
large indoor area on the east end of the Valley Fair Mall (Calumet Street and
Memorial Drive/Highway 47) offers serious terrain for the gravitationally
unimpaired. Call 954-8412. Cost is $8 (as of Feb. 20, 2004), and a helmet and
a waiver will be required. Catch some major air!
For roller skating, there are many good choices for
in-line skating or traditional roller skating. Your options include:
- Gem Roller Rink, 3717 S. Oneida St., Appleton,
734-2123
- Skate City, 708 S. Railroad St., Kimberly, 788-6059
- Fox Valley Roller Rink, 1215 Gillingham Rd.,
Neenah, 722-0004
- Skater's Edge, 1150 N. Mayflower Dr., Appleton,
733-9043
Indoor ice skating is popular at the Tri-County Ice Arena
in the Town of Menasha, 700 E. Shady Lane, 731-9731, and also in the Appleton
Family Ice Center in Memorial Park (1717 E. Witzke Blvd., Appleton), 830-7679.
-
Ballooning
The Appleton area has an enthusiastic group of
ballooners, Fox Valley Ballooning. Join a flight crew and explore
Wisconsin from above. Their float was a real hit at the 2004 Christmas Parade.
-
Dance
Studios
Appleton has several dance studios,
some of which can be great social venues as well. My wife and I had a
wonderful time taking dance instruction for about six months at Adagio Dance
Studios. Great instructors for private lessons in a fun ballroom, with lots of
socials for members. The program often starts with a free introductory lesson,
after which you can choose to continue with a paid program (adults only). You
can call Adagio at 731-8851 (1004 S. Olde Oneida, in the top floor of a
historic building that now has a restaurant, a club, and small businesses).
For kids and teenagers, Gym Kids offers popular dance programs (big groups of
kids doing choreographed performances on stage - call 969-1080). There's also
Valley Dance Studio (731-4441), Marcia's School of Dance (733-1552), the
Makaroff School of Ballet (734-7073), and Dance-Tec Dance Studio (720-0906).
-
Green Bay Botanical
Garden
Though it's not in Appleton, this
favorite place of mine is a short drive to the north. Many beautiful gardens
are offered featuring herbs, flowers, trees, and other themes, with
beautifully landscaped grounds, walking trails, a fun playground, and
interesting structures. I especially enjoyed their Renaissance Herb Faire
(Sept. 21-22, 2002), where many Renaissance buffs were present demonstrating
jousting and other aspects of Renaissance culture. It's at 2600 Larsen Road in
Green Bay. Call (920) 490-9457 for directions and event information.
-
Laser
Quest
The best laser tag in the region. Next to
Media Play north of the Mall at 4236 W. Wisconsin Avenue, 920-954-9930.
Twenty-minute sessions cost $6. Great equipment, nice multi-level setting.
Laser Quest tag exposed the hypocrite in me. After lecturing my kids about the
vileness of an activity based on shooting, I finally got dragged into trying
it and had a blast. I've taken my kids there several times. Shame! Guess I am
the primitive violent type after all.
-
Funset
Boulevard
A fun place for kids and even adults,
with lots of arcade games and a few small rides and a form of laser tag (but
not as fun as Laser Quest, IMHO). A popular choice for birthday parties and
fund raisers. Avoid the pizza. Next to Hollywood Cinema (513 N. Westhill
Blvd.), the actual address is 3916 W. College - but you need to get on
Westhill Blvd. to go there, I think. 920-993-0909.
More Remote Wisconsin
Attractions:
- Ledge View Nature Study Area near Chilton (call
920-849-7094 for information). The area includes three caves as well as a rich
variety of forest areas, prairie land, and rocky ledges.
- Horicon Marsh, about one hour south of Appleton on
Highway 41, offers rich opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife. It
can be very beautiful. If you have a favorite spot to recommend, let me know.
[table of contents]
Below are
my reviews of places I like. Another good online resource listing local
restaurants is the
dining section at FindItFoxValley.com.
For example, you can find a
listing of buffets in the area or find other dining
options.
- Fratello's
New to Appleton, Fratello's is a fun pasta, steak,
and seafood place located in what used to be the high-end and obscurely named
"J a Restaurant" on the Fox River near Oneida Flats. Another Fratello's known
to many Fox Cities residents is in Oshkosh. I went there recently for a
business dinner and was pleased with the food. Well presented, stylish, and
delicious. Midrange in price. Beautiful setting and good service. It is
located at 501 W. Water Street, which is the road on the north side of the
river along Oneida Flats. It's just west of the Paper Industry Hall of Fame,
right where Water Street turns away from the river and heads uphill (about two
blocks west of the Lawrence Arts Academy). A member of the Supple Restaurant Group.
- Zuppas - - Webmaster's Choice: Best Italian Restaurant
It's in Neenah, but needs to be mentioned as a great
place for Italian food, perhaps the best in the Valley. I've had it highly
recommended to me by several people. I had lunch there recently and was
surprised at the robust, flavorful meal. Then I took my wife there for dinner
and it was perfect. You order your food at a deli-style service counter, but
the food is exquisite. I had a lobster bisque and a marvelous bowtie pasta
dish. Kudos to their talented chef, Peter Kuenzi. The selection of deserts is also quite
tempting. Even the raspberry lemonade merits mention. And I like the relaxed,
attractive decor. Two can have a delightful meal for $20 or less. I agree with
the review at Fox Cities Insider. Located at 1540
South Commercial Street (in The Shops at Mahler Farms), downtown Neenah.
Phone: (920) 720-5045. Closed Sundays. Note: it's just south of the Copps near
Commercial and Breezewood on the south end of Neenah, in a small strip mall.
The understated sign makes it easy to miss - but don't miss this place! See
their Website: Zuppas.com.
- Taste of India - Webmaster's Choice: Best Indian Restaurant and Best New
Restaurant, Fall 2004
I took my wife to Taste of
India on October 22, 2004, and had a magical meal for very little money. This
new restaurant is at 2333 West Wisconsin Avenue, right next to Cinders (you
need to enter via the Cinders parking lot on Perkins Street). Phone 731-9200.
The decor was pleasant, the lighting just right for a romantic evening, and
the background Indian music was at a subtle, unobtrusive volume. But forget
the ambiance - the food was awesome! Just moments after placing our order, we
were brought a simple appetizer of a cracker-like bread with three choices of
delicious toppings - an onion chutney, a thick mint sauce, and a tamarind
sauce. These simple but delicious offerings were a pleasant beginning to a
great meal, and the sauces were fun to try on other parts of the main course
that came later. I order the vegetarian Thali dish, a delightful combination
plate that included naan bread, a truly delicious samosa appetizer, four
interesting vegetarian dishes, the best Basmati rice I've had, and a dessert
similar to rice pudding but tastier, made with noodles. My wife ordered a
remarkable version of Chicken Makhani that was simply flawless, beautiful, and
exciting. The vegetarian Makhani in my Thali plate was also outstanding - such
rich flavors! One thing that really stood out for both of us was the quality
of the Basmati rice. This was the first time that I can remember where I
viewed "plain" rice as a dish to be enjoyed on its own. With remarkably long
grains, a rich aroma and subtle flavor - aided by a touch of cumin and clove,
I believe - the Basmati rice made the meal even more memorable. I'm not sure
what brand they use or how they prepare it, but already it beckons me back.
And for a new restaurant, the service was surprisingly rapid and responsive.
The restaurant was moderately busy, but we were served promptly and were
genuinely surprised with how fast we were enjoying great good. For two of us,
the bill for two entrees plus extra naan bread came to under $28 before tax
and tip. Most dishes are in the range of $10 to $13. The one weakness, in my
opinion was the naan bread, but it may have just been too authentic. The naan
bread I get in most Indian places has a lot of butter on it, and this tasted
pretty much fat free. I suppose that's how it "should" be, but I prefer the
less healthy version. And yes, for lunch, they do offer a buffet. I'll try
that soon. One more thing: right next to the restaurant is new Indian grocery
store if you like cooking Indian food yourself. Yes, they carry several brands
of Basmati rice, and a great mix of spices.
- Noodles and Company - - Webmaster's Choice: Best Chain and Best Fast Food
I first ran into Noodles and Company in
downtown Madison, where I was anxious to try their cuisine but deterred by a
long line of locals (mostly students) trying to get into this popular place
since I was in a hurry. The new (2005) Noodles and Company in Appleton does
not have that problem (at least not yet), so I've been able to try it twice
now with members of my family - and we've been thoroughly impressed. They
offer a variety of outstanding noodle dishes covering Asian, Mediterranean,
and American style food. The Asian dishes have bold flavors as fine as much
more expensive restaurants. The Japanese pan noodles (udon) are outstanding,
as is the Pad Thai, Bangkok Curry, Curry Soup, and Italian Penne. A typical
dish costs $5 (I added the "vegetable trio" for another $1.75 - not needed but
I love lots of veggies), and they will let you customize your meal as well.
And if you don't like the flavor, they will adjust it or replace it. My
Bangkok Curry on my second visit had a weak flavor, but they quickly brought
me a little dish with additional sauce that brought the meal to perfection.
The service is incredibly fast - you may have your food within five minutes or
less from the time you order (about 2 minutes on my second visit). You pay at
the order counter and they bring the food to your table if you are eating in.
They also have a drive through - an indication of how quickly the dishes can
be prepared. But it doesn't taste like fast food at all - the quality is
outstanding. One sign of quality, in my opinion, is their choice of hot sauce
on every table: my favorite Huy Fong Sriracha chili-garlic sauce. First class! I also
recommend their flatbread - a delicious pancake-like bread for just 65 cents.
Very tasty. And they offer some of our favorite trendy soft drinks, including
excellent cream soda and Wisconsin root beer. They are on the north side of
the Fox River Mall, at 4333 West Wisconsin Avenue. Open 11 AM to 9 PM Sun-Wed,
and until 10 PM the rest of the week. Phone: (920) 734-4859; fax: (920)
734-4895. Also be sure to get a frequent eater card.
- Gyros Kabob - Webmaster's Choice: Best Gyros and Best "Hole in the
Wall."
In spite of being almost in the center of
downtown Appleton, Gyros Kabob at 118 Soldiers Square is easy to miss, being a
tiny shop tucked between buildings on the backside of College Avenue in
Soldiers Square, near the Houdini Plaza (formerly Cindy's Sandwich Shop). With
a total seating capacity of four people (yes, 4!) around a cheap table, it's
not the kind of place you would pick for a big business dinner on an expense
account. But this little shop makes the best gyros in town. The cooks
understand what gyros are meant to be, and for their kabob sandwich, they know
how to grill vegetables perfectly, resulting in tender, flavorful bites that
charm the hungry stomach. The pita bread alone is worth a visit: tender,
tasty, and lightly toasted just before being served. A variety of gyro and
kabob-based pita sandwiches are offered, along with baklava for dessert and a
few other items. I thrilled four people for $18.60 recently for dinner. Open
for lunch also. Call 920-830-9355.
They have a full ice cream fountain (they do anything
from a single scoop to old fashioned malts, banana splits and turtle sundaes).
They also offer some flaming items (crepes suzette and banana foster, prepared
table side). Something Sweet is located a 411 W. College Ave, across from the
PAC and 1 block down from the Paper Valley Hotel. Call 380-9710. Open from 11
AM to 11 PM Tuesday through Sunday.
- Min Du
Buffet - Webmaster's Choice: Best Value
This new Chinese restaurant in Appleton (opened around
the beginning of 2003) offers the best value of any place I've seen. The lunch
buffet is just $5.88 (including Saturdays, the perfect time to go) and the
dinner buffer is only $6.88. And get this: the buffet includes truly excellent
sushi from a highly skilled sushi chef. The buffet has a wide variety of
excellent dishes. The dessert area also includes lychee nuts and other unusual
items. Min Du is at 100 West Wisconsin Avenue, about 2 blocks west of Richmond
Street, in a strip mall on the north side of Wisconsin. HURRY to this
establishment and enjoy their food because anyone offering sushi at such low
prices can't stay in business long, I'm sad to say. But pay a little extra,
leave a huge tip for the sushi chef, and maybe with our help, we can keep Min
Du going.
- China Dragon
Buffet
A little east of the huge Regency cinema
on College Boulevard (Hwy CE) east of town, the China Dragon Buffet offer a
good Chinese buffet. They have many Chinese dishes, several soups, plus
desserts, fruits, salad items, and vanilla and chocolate soft ice cream
(relatively low-fat for reduced guilt, the way I like it, though some won't
care for this). I don't think they use MSG (no MSG aftertaste hits me after
eating there). I previously gave this a Webmaster's Choice Award for best
Chinese buffet, but now I'm not so sure. They seem to have changed management
and made some changes in the food, so the last time I was there was not quite
as good as I previously experienced. Maybe just an off night.
The lunch buffet is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday through Saturday, with the dinner buffet from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Take-out is also offered, and China Dragon Buffet now provides broad delivery
service for all of Appleton, Menasha, Kimberly, Little Chute, Combined Locks,
Kaukauna, and even the Sherwood Area. Call (920) 830-8158.
The address is W3169 Van Roy Road, Appleton, WI 54915,
but think of it as being on the south side of College Avenue (Highway CE) near
Kimberly just west of Eisenhower Drive. It is about one block west of Regal
Cinema, next to the new Big Lots store. From College Avenue, turn south on
Eisenhower and immediately turn right onto Van Roy Road or into the Big Lots
parking lot.
- Timber Lodge Steakhouse -
Maybe we just got lucky, but the night we visited Timber Lodge Steakhouse in
June 2004, we experienced some of the best steak we've had in a long time, and
encountered remarkably pleasant and helpful service in a relaxing and
attractive setting. The restaurant is located near the Fox River Mall
(northwest corner, off Integrity Way) with a distinctive log cabin
architecture. The fresh wooden appearance inside and the quiet atmosphere was
relaxing and allowed for casual conversation without having to shout (a
problem with some noisy establishments in town). Our waiter was remarkably
helpful and attentive. I ordered the Timber Creek Filet Medallions ($17.99),
which far exceeded my expectations: incredible flavor and tenderness in a
perfect sauce. The salads and side dishes (mushroom for me) were also
excellent. If you don't want steak, they have a good selection of fish,
sandwiches, and a few other dishes (pasta, chicken). But the steaks shouldn't
be missed. They are hand-cut, hand-selected, aged steaks of outstanding
quality, for a lot less than you would pay at other places (e.g., Lombardi's).
Steak selections range from $10.99 to $21.99. A variety of additional toppings
such as blue cheese crusting can be ordered for an extra $1 to $3. Add a 5
ounce lobster tail to your steak for $8.99.
- Texas
Roadhouse - A chain, but a fun one. I had dinner there with a couple of
outstanding patent lawyers recently. A bit too rowdy for a business dinner,
but fun with excellent food at surprisingly low prices for a steak house. My
Dallas steak was outstanding and the homemade rolls were great, but my
favorite part of the meal was a side dish, their baked sweet potato that was
covered with brown sugar and topped with half-melted marshmallows. They gave
me some cinnamon at my request. It was huge, superb, and better than almost
any dessert I've had - but I'm quite partial to sweet potatoes. (My years in
the South may be to blame.) Next to Woodfield Suites on College Avenue, just
east of Highway 41.
- Lemon Grass Thai
Cuisine - A hot new Thai restaurant just north of the Fox River Mall,
this place offers a good menu and elegant decor. While I personally prefer Cy's Asian Bistro in Neenah, Lemon Grass definitely
offers excellent cuisine. It's at 4390 Greenville Drive, Grand Chute, near
Media Play. Call 920-968-3317 for reservations. Lunch is served Monday to
Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with dinner starting at 5 p.m. daily.
- Taqueria Los
Compadres - My choice for best Mexican (authentic Mexican). It's
actually just south of the border of Appleton in Menasha at the intersection
of 7th Street and Highway 47 (705 Appleton Road). Since it's opening in
February of 2000, Los Compadres has been my choice for real Mexican food with attentive, friendly,
down-to-earth service and low prices. They've got an awesome bean dip that
comes with your chips. I also enjoy their tortas (Mexican sandwiches).
Excellent meat, fine sauces, good soups and lunch specials. Leave a big tip
and tell them the tall guy with the big family sent you! Call 920-722-6572. 2004 Update: They have now opened a second restaurant
in Darboy on Calumet Street next to Wal-Mart, but I
don't recommend it. They have a different menu that lacks some of the best
and most authentic foods of their original place. Their tacos were poorly
cooked--the most disappointing food that I've ever had from a Mexican
restaurant. The soft corn tortillas had not been fried, maybe just lightly
steamed, and thus were flavorless and unpalatable. I politely pointed out the
problem, asking if they could be lightly fried, and was treated like I was
from Mars. Three different employees came, each time asking why I was unhappy
with the tacos and each time, instead of fixing them, explaining that this is
they way they are supposed to be. I've had tacos cooked by Mexicans many times
without ever running into something like this. Plus, the second place is more
expensive--you're paying for the nicer location and decor. I've been
disappointed there twice now and won't be going back.
- Victoria's -
outstanding Italian food at low cost. Very large quantities are a trademark of
this place. I've entertained well-fed people from the east coast at Victoria's
and they were really impressed, so it's pretty good. Their very large menu
even includes paella, a Spanish seafood dish.
- The Olive
Garden - It's a chain, but one with fabulous Italian food. Sadly, I
cannot give them much of a recommendation now because of HUGE wait times.
Reminds me of Yogi Berra's quip about a restaurant: "Nobody goes
there anymore - it's too crowded." On a recent Saturday, we waited nearly an
hour just to be seated. We could blame that on the weekend. But then my wife
went with a small group on a Wednesday night and had another huge wait (over
30 minutes to be seated). Lots of empty tables, just not enough staff to
handle the people who came. It's where "everyone" seems to go after a big
event. If you are lucky and get served quickly, try their truly amazing dish,
"Ravioli a Portabello" (ravioli stuffed with a mushroom filling that's out of
this world, if you're into mushrooms). Bonus: soft drinks, bread sticks, and
the soup that goes with your entree are replenished for free, if you want
them. It's near the northwest corner of the Fox River Mall, 1275 North
Casaloma Dr. (off of Wisconsin Avenue). Ph: 954-8005. They don't accept
reservations.
- Sai Ram Indian
Cuisine - now Appleton has excellent Indian food at this new restaurant
on the north side of town, 253 W. Northland Avenue (ph. 733-3003). For lunch,
they offer a superb buffet that is as good as what you'll find in the highly
touted Indian restaurants of Chicago or other big cities. The owners and hosts
are kind, warm people that add to the experience. A real favorite of mine!
- Lombardi's
Steakhouse - Located in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel (333. W.
College Avenue), this classy and elegant restaurant offers what may be the
best steaks in the state. I went there with a gift certificate recently and
was simply amazed at the quality of the food - a meal I will not soon forget.
But it is expensive. Without drinks or dessert, you can expect to pay $30 for
a typical meal. Three of use shared a 30-ounce porterhouse steak and an order
of crab legs, plus two of their large sides dishes (the garlic smashed
potatoes were fantastic!), for $85 plus tip. Open daily, 4 PM till midnight.
Call 920-380-9390 for reservations. Casual dress is acceptable.
- Apollon -
good Greek food in a pleasant setting. I've had e-mail from people who feel
it's an utterly superb restaurant with great service, though it's not really
one of my favorites.
- The Machine
Shed - Great country cooking for hearty appetites. The Machine Shed
offers unlimited applesauce, cold slaw, and great breads as appetizers and
side dishes for their fine main dishes (fish, chicken, steaks, sandwiches,
etc.) at pretty low prices. And the lemonade is good, though it's served in
decorative mason jars (I prefer regular glasses). Relaxed rustic atmosphere
with a gift shop, reminiscent of the smaller Cracker Barrel that used to be at
this location. Located near the Fox River Mall at the corner of College Avenue
and Highway 41 under a towering sign. (Turn into the mall entrance from
College, then quickly turn right again towards 41.)
- China Buffet
- One of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Appleton, the China Buffet
features a very large selection of excellent Chinese items plus an
American-style salad bar and soft ice cream. All you can eat at a low price,
with lower prices for kids under 10. It's part of the Northland Mall in north
Appleton, just about 1 block west of Richmond Avenue (Highway 47), almost
adjacent to Shopko.
- Mancino's Italian Eatery - A new
inexpensive Italian eatery that opened in the summer of 2005 a block west of
Regal Cinema on East College Avenue in College Park Plaza, next to Big Lots
(W3169 Van Roy Road). They sell subs ("grinders"), pizzas, a large assortment
of calzones, and a few pasta dishes like lasagna. I took my family there for
lunch recently and tried a couple of calzones and lasagna. The calzones may be
the best in Appleton - outstanding! Excellent crust, tasty fillings. The bread
sticks were also excellent. Lasagna was average. The typical meal costs around
$6 per person. Don't make the mistake of assuming it's a fast food joint - the
calzones can take about 15 minutes to prepare, but it's worth it. I suggest
calling in with your order ahead of time if you're in a hurry. Phone:
920-731-8740, fax: 920-731-8755. They have several pages of their menu online.
- La Bamba: "Burritos
as Big as Your Head" - Now on Wisconsin Avenue, this fine little fast
food place offers some of my favorite Mexican food, specializing in awesome,
low-cost burritos. It's also one of the very few places in the area serving horchata, a favorite drink of mine made from rice
water with a little cinnamon and sugar. Who can live
without horchata? And if you ever need to eat late, this may be the latest
closing restaurant around, staying open until 3:00 AM, providing refuge to
those of you who stumble out of bars as they close.
- Trim B'S - A fine seafood restaurant with
reasonable prices and good service. Casual dining. Excellent nautical decor -
and the restaurant features a small art gallery as well. However, some may
find the menu to be rather limited. 201 S. Walnut St., Appleton, 734-9204.
- A Taste of
Thai - This Thai restaurant on the east end of College Avenue offers an
excellent menu with high-quality Thai food. The red curries are especially
good. Sorry, no green curry. One possible problem: sometimes the service is
extremely slow. Recently we were seated for over 30 minutes before we could
even place our order, and it was another 30 minutes or so before the food
came.
- Cy's Asian
Bistro - This new Thai restaurant is in Neenah, but well worth the 15
minute drive from Appleton. Small, cozy, but filled with some mighty fine Thai
flavors. Great for lunch or dinner. I took my wife and a couple of Russian
guests there for lunch recently - tremendous! My wife strongly recommends
their green curries; I was crazy about the red. They also offer "Take and Bake
Thai Pizza" made with their delightful, mild green curry sauce. Let me know
how it is - I haven't tried it yet. 208 W. Main Street in Neenah, across from
Zacateca's Mexican Restaurant. Call (920) 969-9549.
- Big Shanghai
Buffet - Largest number of dishes of any Chinese buffet in the area
with reasonably good quality. Many people like it and tell me it's great for
lunch. If you go for dinner, go early - probably no later than 7:00 PM. On
June 22, 2005, my son and I, both feeling very hungry after a long day (my
wife and other boys were out West then), went there at 8:15 P.M. for dinner,
45 minutes before closing, and found that nearly all of their hot dishes were
empty. There were a couple dozen or so empty bins and only about six with
anything left. We should have walked out, because five minutes later there
were only two or three with anything left, but we had already begun eating. As
I stared forlornly at an entire row of 16 empty bins with appealing names,
empty plate in hand, the manager said I could pick one dish and she would cook
more, but it was hard to select something based on the appearance of the aged
scraps. We ate some remnants and left. Their policy of letting the bins go
empty is bad business. It's not like there were no customers - there were
about a dozen people in the restaurant, at least one of which wrote a review
of their experience, and a group of about six people came in but wisely walked
out when they saw that all the food was gone. Corner of Calumet and South
Oneida.
- Mary's Family
Restaurant - Need good home cooking at a low price? Looking for a fast
bowl of soup and slice of pie? For full meals or just dessert, Mary's has been
a real tradition for many in Appleton. Not very fancy and not very exotic, but
good food and service at a low price makes Mary's a useful addition to
anybody's dining list. (A nice place to take someone who doesn't like ethnic
food.) Two locations: 2312 North Richmond or 2106 South Oneida in Appleton.
- Koreana
Restaurant - Korean food finally comes to Appleton! This started as a
small extension of an oriental grocery store in 1997, but in 2000 moved to a
spacious location on Northland Avenue with a major upgrade in the menu. This
is now my favorite restaurant, offering amazing
Korean food and marvelous sushi! Some great friends took me out to Koreana
recently and I was simply stunned with the great flavors. Plus the place is
attractive, clean, with rapid service. Bee-bim bop, bulgoki, noodle soup, and
many more dishes are featured on their menu.
- Peggy's Cafe
- A favorite downtown restaurant for many people. Peggy's has a charming
interior and an eclectic menu emphasizing seafood and nouveau cuisine. 125 E.
College Avenue.
- The Orchard
Cafe A popular spot for business meals and casual but delicious dining.
Located in the atrium of the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel on College Avenue,
the Orchard Cafe has a relaxing atmosphere well suited for conversation. I've
been there several times for business breakfasts and can recommend the
Mariners Benedict dish as one of the best egg dishes you'll ever have. There
is also a seafood buffet on Friday nights that's hard to beat.
- B.J.
Clancy's - Offers good steaks and American fare. The real attraction is
the entertainment on Friday evenings: live magic at your table performed by
local magician Bruce Hetzler (whose book, Bev
Taylor's Town House Magic, is reviewed on my magic page). Bruce is
also a well known Professor of Psychology at Lawrence University. B.J.
Clancy's is in south Appleton at the intersection of Oneida (Hwy 10) and
Midway Road (Hwy AP).
- Chef Chu's Chinese
Cuisine - 719 W College Ave., at the intersection with Richmond Ave.
(Highway 47). This may be the most famous Chinese restaurant in the Fox Cities
and tends to be a favorite among many of the Chinese people in the area.
Attention is paid to subtle flavors. Generally excellent food. Phone
920-749-0330.
- Lee's Chinese and
Vietnamese - An interesting new restaurant at 2303 S Oneida Street,
Appleton. Reasonably good Oriental food, perhaps not enough emphasis on the
Vietnamese offerings (I love Vietnamese food). Not too expensive and good
service, based on my single visit there.
- Old Country
Buffet - Now near the Fox River Mall, this restaurant offers casual
buffet dining (all you can eat) at a low price with generally excellent food.
I love their dessert bar. Great place to take hungry kids.
- Culvers - A
Wisconsin chain offering the best fast food around. Wonderful sandwiches,
soups, fish, and especially their frozen custard! A classy place for fast
food, but affordable. One is near Woodman's groceries and the other I frequent
is on Highway KK (Calumet Street) in the south east part of town, just east of
Highway 441.
- Frank's Pizza
Palace - I've had e-mail recommending Frank's. Quite a few people like
it, for reasons not clear to me. I finally went there with my wife on March 4,
2005. Sorry, folks - I really struggled with their pizza. Their main pizza
line is all thin crust - no other option unless you want to wait for deep
dish. And the thin crust was pretty much like a saltine cracker - dry,
brittle, flavorless, maybe not as thick. The sauce was little more than plain
tomato sauce with a lot of salt. The garlic bread was outstanding, I'll admit,
but for pizza, you're better off with Pizza Hut or much better off with
Figaros. The Pizza Palace was packed, and people were smiling - help me see
what I'm missing here! Is it my lack of Midwest roots?? (815 W. College Ave.,
open 4 p.m. daily. Phone 920-734-9131.)
- Grazies Italian
Restaurant - W6157 Lorna Lane (intersection of Calumet and AP just east
of Wal-Mart on the southeast corner of town). Pleasant decor, good service and
low prices, with OK food. (The bread was somewhat stale and served with
ordinary Italian dressing for dipping instead of olive oil.) Fast lunches.
920-996-9999.
- Sammy's
Pizza - 211 North Appleton Street, just across from the public library.
This restaurant has been a landmark for many years. One pizza lover told me
that Sammy's has "a nostalgic 'good old days' flavor" with "old-fashioned
sit-down booths and tile flooring that just looks old." I haven't been there
yet, but many people seem to like it.
- TGI Friday's
- A national chain - but a great one. Lots of atmosphere, unusual yet
delectable food, and not expensive. Love the oddities on the wall and ceiling.
By the Fox River Mall.
- Mongo's Mongolian
Barbecue - Not really Mongolian or barbecue, this genre has become
popular around the country. Guests create their own stir-fry dishes from a
variety of meets, vegetables, and sauces, and instruct the grill-master how to
cook it. It's fun, boisterous, and all-you-care-to-eat. I include this by
popular demand, although it got a little old for me on my second visit.
- Prime Quarter Steak
House - I'm not big on steaks, but most everyone who is loves this
place. Tara L. says, "The steak was amazing, prices are good, and the service
was great!" And D.J. says, "You gotta go there. It's my favorite." 500 N.
Westhill Ave. Phone: 738-1900.
- Nakashima's
Japanese Steakhouse - Included here by popular demand! This restaurant
offers showmanship from the cooks and great food. My son went there and loved
it. A favorite restaurant of some visitors to Appleton. But in Feb. 2005, I
received this comment from an unhappy customer:
I came across your website and I saw your
posting for Nakashima. I just felt that I gotta put in my two cents. As an
Asian who's very familiar with Japanese food, I must say that Nakashima is
the worst Japanese restaurant that I've tried in Wisconsin. In my opinion,
the food is very plain and you can't even taste the Japanese taste! The
sushi bar is average since I've tasted much better sushis (the fish/seafood
that they use isn't very fresh) such as the ones they serve in the Japanese
restaurants in Madison which I highly recommend.
I think it's also a downfall that they are the only
Japanese restaurant in the Fox Valley area but they don't have a bigger
selection of Japanese food such as udon, tempura, etc. Going for Hibachi is
a fun experience especially for children and the servers are always very
nice and friendly but I just think that they are too pricey for the quality
of food that they serve. Although I must say that their sushi prices are
reasonable since seafood is expensive.
- Seasons
Restaurant - A popular choice for trendy dining. My last experience was
less than optimal, but the others in my group were really pleased. Definitely
worth a try. Across from the Holiday Inn at 213 South Nicolet Road.
- Black and Tan
Grille - This relatively new restaurant offers one of the most
interesting menus in the Valley and is a good choice for fine dining, but it's
expensive (by my standards). I was there for a business dinner recently and it
cost a little over $70 for two (no alcoholic beverages), but it was very
impressive. I had a delicious serving of roast duck with a novel sauce that
included real maple syrup and berries. The service was excellent. If you loved
the menu at the old Seasons restaurant, this may be the place for you now. On
Memorial Avenue (Hwy 47) just south of the bridge over the Fox River.
- Good Company
- A lively restaurant on the corner of Richmond Street and College Avenue with
a huge menu ranging from burgers to Italian, Mexican and Cajun cuisine. Dishes
are inexpensive and generally good. 2003 update:
I've had negative reports about the quality of food, especially the Mexican
dishes at Good Company. But others still love the place.
- Seven Angels - A new low-cost family
restaurant with a surprisingly diverse menu and generally good food. There is
a children's menu and specials for seniors as well. The 5,600-square-foot
restaurant seats 180 people. It's next to Lawrence University's Banta BowlIt's
at 1401 E. John St. If you're coming from downtown, take College Avenue east
across the bridge, then at the intersection, continue toward the right,
heading southeast on John street. It's just past the intersection on the right
at a site that used to be a Hardees, close to the Banta Bowl of Lawrence
University. I took six people there and we were generally very pleased with
the soups (outstanding!) and the entrees. Warning: my key lime pie had a
stiff, high-fat green frosting on it that destroyed the pie.
- Atlanta Bread Company - This chain from the
South has become quite a hit in this far corner of the North. It's one of my
favorite places for a good low-cost meal. If you love good breads, don't miss
this place. I recommend a half-and-half combo (half a sandwich and a soup)
with the soup upgraded for $1 extra to a bread bowl of soup. You can also buy
loaves of excellent crusty breads. On Casaloma Avenue west of the Mall, in the
same parking area as DSW shoes. (July 2004 Update: A new location is opening
soon close to Wal-Mart in Darboy, on the southeast side of Appleton.)
- Stuc's Pizza
- 110 N. Douglas Avenue, visible on the north side of College Avenue about 1
mile west of downtown. on College Ave. Their deep dish pizzas are said to be
better than those of the famous Pizzeria Uno in Chicago (the place where deep
dish pizza allegedly originated). They seem to focus on takeout business, but
you can sit down and eat inside as well.
- Steak Escape
- in the Fox River Mall is a source of Philadelphia Cheesesteaks and other
sandwiches. I'm told that their fresh-cut fries, cooked in peanut oil, are
divine.
- The Pasty
Koop - 135 E. Wisconsin Ave., across from St. Therese Church, bakes
pasties fresh every day. According to John L. Hoh, Jr., of Milwaukee, "pasties
were a meat-potatoes-carrot-rhutabaga concoction brought over from Wales by
Welsh miners coming to mine copper in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and in the
mines of Southwest Wisconsin. This Yooper delight is now available in
Appleton." Phone: (920) 830-0896. Hours: M-F, 5:30 AM - 6 PM; Saturday, 5:30
AM - 2 PM; closed Sundays and holidays.
- Cold Stone Creamery - Looking for a
high-quality ice-cream shop? Cold Stone Creamery provides almost unlimited
choices for the ice-cream mixtures they blend by hand as you watch with real
ice cream they make on the premises each day. It's top quality and pricey, but
a great way to get a special treat. There are two stores in town, one in the
Fox River Mall and the other next to Starbucks on Calumet Street (KK) and
Highway 41, just west of Highway 41 on the north side of the road. We went
there on opening night and were pleased, though my Italian Sorbet was more
like an American sherbet. But the mixed ice cream creations were great.
- Figaros - Webmaster's
Choice: Best Take-out Pizza
This new chain is
surprisingly good. The Sicilian pan pizzas are superb, for example. In
addition to outstanding dough, they put good olive oil on the crust before
adding the toppings, and then use superb sauce, one of the best I've tasted
for take-out pizzas. They deliver or you can pick the pizza up at their shop.
I like dropping in because the staff their are very friendly and helpful, and
do a good job of finding discounts they can apply if you forget a coupon or
something. They are right next to KaBoom, just west of Wal-Mart in Darboy.
3525 E. Calumet, Appleton. Phone: (920) 733-6996. Try the breadsticks, too!
In addition, there are many pubs and bars all over
Appleton that also serve a variety of foods, though I personally avoid bars.
While I haven't been there, the Frozen Tundra Bar and Grill (205 W. College Ave,
next to Cleo's) is said to be a good place for food and drinks, with food such
as Black Angus burgers, steak sandwiches, and a Friday fish fry. If you've been
there, let me know what you think.
Of course, there are many more great places to ward off
hunger. For a quick treat, many people like Manderfield's Bakery. For those with
a flare for Asian specialties, Appleton has several oriental grocery stores
(catering primarily to the Hmong community). So many choices - so little time to
eat!
Sadly, not every place in Appleton can be recommended.
I've avoided reviewing places I really didn't like, but to be fair, I've decided
I'll start sharing those views so you can be aware of what you might encounter.
For example, a new Mexican place, Panchero's near Wal-Mart in Darboy (southeast
past of town) looks nice but left us really disappointed. My first clue was the
terrible acoustics as we came in - it sounded like a noisy gym even though the
place was almost empty. As for the food, it's one of the only Mexican places
I've been to where the basic tortilla was unpalatable. They are "homemade" but
with a machine that presses the dough so thin that it becomes rubbery and more
like a thin Atkins-style wrap than a real Mexican tortilla. The chicken in my
burrito had been burned and had a sooty flavor. I don't plan to return.
For lunch over the Christmas break recently, I took my
family to the new Mexican place, Señor Tequila's on College Avenue (531 West).
The food is OK: my Mexican-style scrambled eggs were actually outstanding
(better than the related dish I had once at the airport in Ciudad de Juarez,
where I learned to relish spicy Mexican "huevos"), but other dishes were
lacking, and the service was slow (some dishes were cold when they arrived).
Especially annoying were the large screens playing loud videos. We saw part of a
"Salsa con Celia Cruz" DVD that was interesting, but then it was followed by an
offensive music video of the Latina pop star Thalia that simply was not
appropriate for families or for restaurants. We made a quick retreat when that
video came on (we'd finished the food already, fortunately), but it left an
unappetizing flavor in our mouth. Don't write this place off just on the basis
of my unfavorable impression - it's large selection of egg dishes and other
favorites may be just what you are looking for.
Another place that was "OK but disappointing" was
Michiel's in Menasha, although I highly recommend Michiel's banquet hall in
Appleton as a place for receptions.
For those who prefer to cook their own food, Woodman's
is the biggest store around. I like it for its great produce, huge selections,
and exciting ethnic specialties (they even have yerba mate, the popular South
American beverage). Visitors often are surprised to see the name of another
popular chain, Piggly Wiggly. If you say it fast and keep a straight
face, no one will trouble you. Copps, Cub Foods, and Pick 'N Save are also popular.
For spices and baking supplies, it's hard to beat Cathy's Country
Store on north Richmond Street. Small, but packed with excitement for the
discerning cook.
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