The Indiana portion of The Lincoln Highway is a lovely drive and trip down memory lane!

The historic Indiana Lincoln Highway Byway is one of the featured trails in the new 2012 Indiana Travel Map. The Lincoln Highway was the first named automobile road that crossed the United States of America from coast to coast. The Lincoln Highway was named an official state byway in 2011.

The highway, named in honor of our nation’s 16^th President, was originally formed in 1913 and spans across the country for a grand total of 5,869 miles. In Indiana, the highway travels through more than 40 towns and completes the stretch from Pennsylvania to Ohio.

The city of Fort Wayne is one of the contributors who helped make it possible for the road to become a byway and be featured in the travel map. Along the original 1915 route through Fort Wayne, there can be seen red, white and blue signs marking the byway.

If you are looking to take a drive, you can learn more online and then hop on the historic Lincoln Highway Byway and follow the road markers through Fort Wayne and rediscover what was known as the “Main Street Across America” long before interstate highways were born!

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Last week, I took the opportunity to take a stroll in the beautiful spring weather and stop by Higher Grounds Star, located at 127 W. Berry St. in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, IN. Not only was I greeted by a beautiful building and decor, but I was also greeted with great smiles and nice conversation with the owner, Scott Thrasher-Herndon.

I had to know what the best sellers were and here’s what I found out:

By the pound: Cinnamon
Summer: Shoaff Shake
Winter: Peppermint and Cinnamon
Year-round: Pumpkin Latte (which other shops only offer in the fall) and The Zebra

My favorite blueberry scone in town!

They are open Monday-Friday from 7am-5pm. Along with coffee (including Brews of the Day), espressos, smoothies and shakes (made with hand-dipped ice cream – it doesn’t get much better than that!), they also offer bagels, scones and a few other snack items.

Whether you are on your way to work or if you need to ward off that 2 pm feeling, stop by Higher Grounds Star for the caffeine to make it through your day (and a smile to go with it). You can also check them out on Facebook.

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Where can you get breakfast any hour of the day? Liberty Diner of course!

The restaurant, located at  2929 Goshen Road in Fort Wayne, recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary.  A  quick glance over the menu is enough to see why this place has been a favorite haunt for foodies looking for good food at a reasonable price.

Traditional breakfast  items and lunch favorites tempt customers.  It’s the variety in cuisines that leaves a lasting impression. After all, it’s not everywhere you can find quiche, burgers , lasagna and souvlaki on the same menu. It’s like traveling the world without leaving your seat.

Breakfast is served all day and the 24-hour Friday and Saturday hours make it convenient for a late night (or post-date) bite. Customers can choose from tempting items like omelets, quiches, frittatas and even lox.

Choose from a wide variety of menu items at Liberty Diner.

Owner George Symnriotis came to Fort Wayne by way of Greece, New York, and Chicago.  The Symnriotis have made the city their home and are invested in the community.

It’s clear his time in the Big Apple has served as an inspiration for the menu, as well as the décor. Prints of famous New York attractions adorn the walls. As a tribute to New York City landmark Lady Liberty, the wait staff sport patriotic American flag ties. Most of the staff has worked there since opening day. And visitors will notice the friendliness of the staff is just as generous as the portions.

Although New York City inspired, the diner has not adopted big city prices (or the rudeness).  The Early Bird Special, available from 5:30 to 8 a.m. Monday through Sunday, costs $4.25. Most dinners run about $8.00.

Liberty Diner is open Sunday through Thursday 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and  24-hours on Friday and Saturday. Also, be sure to find them on Facebook.

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If we took a poll, most people who live in Fort Wayne would probably not be able to name many of the military skirmishes that took place in the area 200+ years ago. Members of Historic Fort Wayne, Inc. want to change that.

Historic Fort Wayne brings Fort Wayne history to life.

A series of monthly special events are planned in 2012 that should convince anyone that while it may cost more to live in the Summit City than 200 years ago, it’s much safer and saner than it was then.

The next event at the Old Fort is the Muster on the St. Mary’s. Members of the Historic Old Fort, Inc. and Friends of the Fort will be costumed and ready to depict the lives of soldiers and countrymen from 1812. Visitors are encouraged to discuss living conditions, commerce, family life and health with the re-enactors while strolling among areas of the fort. Special areas of the Fort will be available for the public, including the Doctor’s office, the Officers’ Quarters and the Village. (When special events are not planned at the Fort, these areas are typically off-limits to visitors.) Moderately priced souvenirs can be purchased at the Kekionga Mercantile.

Upcoming events include a re-enactment of the Revolutionary War in July and a siege of the Miamis in August. The 1812 Siege of Fort Wayne in September promises to be exciting!

Muster on the St. Mary’s

Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:00 am-8:00 pm
Sunday, May 20, 2012 11:00 am-4:00 pm

Admission of a free will donation is appreciated.

Historic Old Fort
1201 Spy Run

Directions:
The Old Fort is located over the bridge on the north side of Spy Run Ave. Go to Fourth Street and park at Lawton Park. The fort can be reached after a short stroll down the River Greenway.

For additional information contact Historic Fort Wayne, Inc. at 260.460.4763 or visit their website.

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A gun and knife show may not sound like something everyone would enjoy. If you’re not a hunter or outdoorsman, why would you want to attend this event where hundreds of people are buying, selling and swapping all types of survival gear including archery equipment, military collectibles, army surplus?

There's something for everyone at the Gun & Knife Show.

Think outside of the box. The show’s displays easily appeal to different interests. People interested in history might enjoy viewing military gear from World War II. It would be neat to see a WWII rifle up close and wonder what soldiers from 100 years ago thought as they carried it into battle. Students of martial arts might be intrigued by historic swords from around the world.

My favorite things to look for at these types of events are MRE’s – Meals Ready to Eat. These are self-contained meals that provide nutrients for soldiers who are on the go. A typical MRE contains an entrée, side dish, crackers, dessert and instant coffee. It may be hard to believe, but speaking as the wife of a retired Air Force Guardsman, I know these can be quite tasty. I swear the potatoes au Gratin tasted as though they were made from scratch. These could be handy for a picnic or—let’s face it – they could be valuable for last-minute meal prep around the house.

The Fort Wayne Gun and Knife Show will be held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, May 19 at 9am – 5pm and Sunday, May 20 at 10am – 3pm.

This will be the last Gun & Knife Show at the Coliseum until October.
All local and Federal laws will be observed. All firearms must be unloaded while on Coliseum property.

For more information visit them online.

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