Wisconsin’s Fox Cities are ‘making the papers’ for meetings
Our Convention Sales Manager, Kelly Hekler, was recently interviewed for an article in Meetings Focus magazine. Kelly gives some great insight as to why the Fox Cities is where your next meeting should be.
A great post by a visitor to the Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion Exhibit
By: Kelly Ann Hekler, Convention Sales Manager
If you are looking for a unique place to take the family for a true Wisconsin
experience, look no further than Mulberry Lane Petting Farm! This farm is located at about the outer most point in the Fox Cities on the outskirts of Sherwood. Although that makes it sound far, it’s only about a 20 minute drive from the Fox River Mall.
One of the great things about the farm is the all-inclusive rate. At just $11 per person (free for children under 2), it is affordable on any budget. The Fox Cities CVB usually has coupons in the visitor’s center for a free general admission as well. As I said before, the rate is all-inclusive (with the exception of food and beverage). When you arrive at the farm, you are given a personal one hour tour with a knowledgeable staff member. Kids of all ages are given the opportunity to learn and interact with the farm animals. Being a farm girl myself, even I was surprised that I learned a few new things! Did you know a baby bunny is called a kit or kitten? Neither did I!
After your guided tour, you are welcome to go back and visit any of the many animals including calves, ponies, bunnies, kittens, piglets, baby goats, chicks and more! You can also visit their older counterparts. I was amazed at all of the baby animals they had, especially since I visited in August! You have the 
opportunity to hold any of the roaming cats, catch a chicken, milk a cow or snuggle a bunny. Also included in the all-inclusive rate are horse rides, wagon rides, feed for the goats and (depending on the season) your very own pumpkin that you pick out of the pumpkin patch! What a bargain!
If you aren’t really a farm person, don’t worry, the smells won’t bother you one bit. The animals sleep in a separate area and the pens are cleaned daily. It is the cleanest farm that I have ever been to!
Mulberry Lane also offers guided tours for elementary and nursery schools, daycare centers, families, church groups, scouts, birthday parties and corporate events. They even have an area for wedding ceremonies and receptions! In fact, they were just featured in a photo spread in The Wedding 2012 edition.
For hours and directions, visit www.mulberrylanefarmwi.com. It really is great family fun for kids of all ages! Also, check out my earlier blog about Frogg’s Ice Cream so that you can treat the family after the petting farm!
By: Paige Wagner, Marketing & PR Intern
Last weekend I had the urge to try out another new lunch spot. As I was thinking over my 
options, I remembered that a coworker had suggestion I try Zuppas Cafe in Neenah.
Zuppas turned out to be an adorable little cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating. The pleasant staff are incredibly quick on their feet as they get your food in an assembly line style.
Not only was the atmosphere and the staff wonderful, but the menu was as well. I ordered a build your own salad with the perfect side portion of mac and cheese. My date had a turkey panini sandwich that he thought was delicious.
If you’re looking for a place to go for lunch that has variety and a great atmosphere, try Zuppas in Neenah.
By: Paige Wagner, Marketing/PR Intern
Last weekend my boyfriend and I were on the hunt for a great sandwich place in the Fox
Cities. As we were strolling through downtown Neenah, we spotted Great Harvest Bread Co. and decided to try it out.
Entering Great Harvest Bread Co. turned out to be a fabulous idea. The sandwich/bread shop smelled like heaven and the food looked like it would taste just as good. Everything is made right in front of you which is an added bonus.
The grilled cheese panini sandwich that I chose turned out the be one of the best I had ever had. My boyfriend picked out a toasted BLT sandwhich that was just as good. Before our food arrived we even got to sample our choice of bread.
After my Great Harvest Bread Co. lunch date I would certainly reccommend it to anyone. You can even pick up gifts such as jams and oils. Next time you’re looking for a place to grab a delicious sandwhich, try Great Harvest Bread Co. in Neenah.
By: Kelly Ann Hekler, Convention Sales Manager
If you’re tired of the same old dinner and a movie, I’d like to suggest a new alternative to your evening plans! What about dinner prepared with locally grown produce, fresh locally brewed drinks and a hilarious comedy show? That’s exactly what you will get by spending an evening at Stone Cellar Brew Pub and Skyline Comedy Café!
Both businesses are conveniently housed in the same building on Old Oneida Street, just a few feet before the start of the Oneida Street Bridge leading to downtown Appleton.
Stone Cellar Brew Pub’s philosophy includes “helping to lead the charge in the community to be more sustainable, support local businesses and local citizens, strive towards the offering of only organic fruits and vegetables, and buying from companies with certified humane practices,” according to their website at www.stonecellarbrewpub.com. As a vegetarian, I always struggle to find restaurants that have a menu for me beyond salads. Stone Cellar offers a variety of options including a Mediterranean Flat Bread, a Portabella Melt, Margarita Pizza and an Artichoke Hummus Veggie Wrap. I’ve tried all and they are amazing! They also have a variety of options for the adventurous carnivore including Baja Fish Tacos, Chopped Elf Steak, Indian Curry, Bison Stroganoff and Jaeger Schnitzel. Where else can you get that big of a variety under one roof? Stone Cellar also brews and bottles their own award winning beer, root beer, and gourmet soda. They have so many flavors to choose from! If you don’t have time to enjoy a beer in their cozy outdoor beer garden, feel free to stop in and pick up a six pack to go. By supporting this local business, you will also be supporting dozens of other local businesses that they support. You truly can’t go wrong at the Stone Cellar Brew Pub!
After you are done enjoying your dinner and drinks, head upstairs to Skyline Comedy Café. Check out their website for upcoming shows at http://skylinecomedy.com/index.cfm. Skyline features comedians from Showtime, E!, Last Comic Standing, The Bob and Tom Show and many other late night shows. The line-up changes weekly so you can enjoy a new comedian every weekend. Since the venue is small, you are guaranteed a great seat for the show! You can sit at a bigger table with your friends or have a nice table for two on date night. The size also helps make the show more interactive because more of the comedians talk to the guests or include them in their routine. They also have an extensive drink menu including yummy frozen daiquiris. With a two drink minimum, you will have an opportunity to try them! They also have non-alcoholic daiquiris for the drivers. One of the neat things about Skyline is that they offer great coupons, like 2-4-1, by signing up for their email list. Who wouldn’t enjoy saving money?
I definitely recommend the Stone Cellar Brew Pub and Skyline Comedy Café for your next night out in Appleton!
By: Paige Wagner, Marketing/PR Intern
Last Thursday I had the opportunity to gather with some friends in bustling Downtown Appleton at the first Heid Music Summer Concert Series of the season. Even though I’ve lived in the area for many years, I have never experienced this FREE concert in the city. After going to the first one, I will definitely be a frequent visitor.
Each and every Thursday in the Houdini Plaza in Downtown Appleton a different band performs live. The concert starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m. These concerts are completely free to the public and provide a great chance to groove to some music with friends.
Don’t worry about refreshments during this event because soda, beer and water are all available. Also, many of the restaurants and bars surrounding the concert area are open late.
Interested in this exciting concert series? Checkout the lineup and put the dates on your calendar now!
By: Kelly Ann Hekler, Convention Sales Manager
Calling all artists! Jack E. Richeson & Co., Inc. is truly a hidden gem in the Fox Cities! They offer a wonderful art studio, gallery and school. They also offer classes of all levels, even to people like me who can’t even draw a stick figure! There is truly so much to see in the 25,000 square foot gallery!
The gallery is divided into thirds. In one third, the Richeson family displays their collection with over 200 paintings on display year round. I personally do not have a huge understanding of art, however; I was really able to appreciate the talent displayed. Another third is reserved for well-known contemporary painters. The final third is for new and unknown painters. This section features artists from all over the country and even some locals! It was great to see the undiscovered talent and what they can create. It was especially interesting to see some of the local artists’ work and the local areas that were featured in their paintings. Some of the paintings are for sale and would be a great showpiece in any home.
In the middle of the gallery, a classroom is set up for local painters to come in and paint, chat and talk about their work. They have local teachers and also, once a month, a national known painter teaches special workshops. If you are new to painting and don’t yet have supplies, there are some supplies available for use.
The Jack E. Richeson & Co, Inc. even makes their own painting supplies like canvas, paints, palettes, brushes and easels. They sell to a lot of different stores across the country but they do have a store in the warehouse where local artists can buy direct from the manufacturer. There is also space for meetings and business receptions, what a fun place to host a meeting!
I would encourage all to visit Jack E. Richeson & Co., Inc. They are located on Marcella Street, not too far from the Hilton Garden Inn in Appleton, in a business and industrial park. For more information and directions, check out their website or their Facebook page. Maybe you will become inspired and one day people will be looking at your work displayed in their gallery!
Ricky Bernstein remembers the kitchen of his youth as a chaotic, funny place …. kind of like mine, but his is much better to look at. This morning my friends at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum invited me to hear Bernstein talk about his exhibit that runs April 14-September 2, 2012 at the museum.
It was an awesome opportunity to hear how the artist works, what inspires him and how “Kitchen Dreams” came to be. The exhibit takes you into a comical world of 1950′s pop culture. Using glass, aluminum and childhood
memories, Bernstein pieces together everyday life through a caricature of social roles and cultural icons. The life-sized collages are bold, bright and bound to bring you a good belly laugh.My favorite was “Dog Dreams” .. because I have that dog… and all of the ladies with curlers in their hair. Brought back some memories from my childhood (sorry mom).
The entire family will love this exhibit…they even have colorging books for the kids.
My husband and I walked the Fox Cities Trestle over Little Lake Buttes des Morts on Sunday. It was a lovely day and a beautiful walk, not quite a mile each direction. We watched fisherman, spotted several types of birds and generally enjoyed being so close to the water. The Trestle is just minutes from the Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk and there’s good parking available. From there you can walk, roller blade or ride your bike west for miles, or take a more leisurely stroll east into downtown Menasha.
If you’re staying at one of the hotels near the Fox River Mall, you’ll have easy access to a nice paved trail that runs parallel to Hwy. 41. If you jump on it near the Machine Shed you can go north past the Mall and Fox Cities Stadium, and take it all the way to Fox Valley Technical College. Much of the route is urban, and there’s even a Starbucks on the trail. However, when you arrive on the FVTC property it gets quite wild. I’ve even seen a deer there!
Those are just two of the many trails in the Fox Cities, and you’ll find lots of information on the Fox Cities trails at www.foxcities.org/attractions.cfm. Or, even better, you can stop at the Fox Cities Visitor Center on W. College Avenue to pick up a detailed trail map that’ll give you everything you need to know about trails in one place.
