My favorite Christmas moment of 2016

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Right now, while I am in the morning of Christmas Day, and in the heart of the 2016 Christmas holiday season, I am easily reminded of one of my favorite moments during this season, and it took place over a month ago in the heart of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri.

In the middle of November, a week before American Thanksgiving, I was fortunate to participate in a press tour with a group of fellow travel writers to Branson, Missouri. To say that this town of 10,000 residents is totally immersed in Christmas is indeed an understatement. From downtown Branson, to its historic district, to the 50 theatres that make up its "strip"-- and the 100 shows that inhabit them -- to the very impressive Branson Landing outdoor mall, Christmas is a celebration that takes over Branson from November 1 to December 31. Why, you may ask? According to any resident who is asked that question, they simply reply "because Andy Williams said so!". 

It was 25 years ago that the veteran signer/entertainer moved to Branson and built his own theatre (now called the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center), and helped attract plenty of mainstream entertainers to perform in Branson, and in turn transformed Branson into a major entertainment hub and tourist attract. 

Although he passed away in 2012, Andy Williams’ Christmas legacy is captured every year in Branson. One of those events that captures his legacy is the annual the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Parade, which the fourth edition was held on November 19, and ran along the entire length of Branson Landing. 

Parade emcees Kelly Smith (left) and Billie Yates

Before the parade, myself and the group of travel writers on the press tour were invited to breakfast at the Black Oak Grill restaurant, which was also the meeting place of the selected Branson entertainers who were participating in the parade. While enjoying the delicious breakfast buffet, we were given the chance to interview with as many of the entertainers that we wanted (as long as time permitted). I decided to speak to the amiable Branson duo who were about to emcee the live broadcast of the parade: Billie Yates and Kelly Smith. Yates, who is a veteran Grammy Award-winning songwriter, stars in a rather unique country music tribute in Branson called "Raiding the Country Vault". 

Parade grand marshalls the Lennon Sisters

"Raiding the Country Vault takes 30 of the most iconic songs in country music, add an n all-star cast, along with three giant screens and a laser light show, and the result is a show that celebrates these songs and the stories behind them," said Yates, who added that Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" and Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" are the songs that are featured on the show which are constant favorites with the audience. 

Ms. Smith is also a veteran Branson entertainer. She has performed as Cher in the Legends in Concert show, and is the host of a daily lifestyles TV magazine show called “Ozarks Live”, which airs on the local CBS station. As well, she is about to tour in a tribute show in Australia as Olivia Newton-John; and what makes this singing gig so special for Ms. Smith is that her tribute performance was given the official approval by Olivia Newton-John herself. 

"When I perform any character, I always take it seriously. To prep myself for the Olivia Newton-John role, I carefully listened to her songs, and did everything to get her accent right. Getting every nuance of the character perfectly is the most important way of what I do as a performer. And as a result, I will get the chance to perform as her for a future two-week tour in Australia," she said.

The parade itself attracted a large number of Branson residents and tourists, who braved the unseasonably chilly temperatures to get their Christmas holidays off to the right start. It featured several of Branson’s top entertainers, such as the Baldknobbers (who began performing in Branson in 1960), the Hughes Brothers, Six, and the Lennon Sisters (who served as this year’s parade grand marshals), along with a stream of classic cars and floats that were provided by many of the city’s shows and local sponsors. However, this day of holiday celebration didn't end with the parade. It was followed by an hour-long Christmas concert, which showcased many of the entertainers that were on the parade route, and took place in front of the fountains of the main square at Branson Landing. On the line-up were the following Branson entertainers: the Baldknobbers, New South, Clay and Tina Cooper, the Hughes Brothers, Voices of Glory, Dean Z (as Elvis Presley), Six, Brian Dupre (as Frank Sinatra), Pierce Arrow, Billy Yates, and the Lennon Sisters (together with their grand daughters), in which they each sang a popular Christmas song, (and also acted as a sampler of Branson shows that one did not get the chance to see, or sparked one's interest to catch in the future). All in all, the parade and concert capped off a wonderful morning, and vividly illustrated to me why Christmas in Branson is indeed "the most wonderful time of the year".

The Lennon Sisters perform at Branson Landing

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For more information about visiting Branson, Missouri during Christmas time or any other time of the year, check out the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.explorebranson.com.

Following in the footsteps of LBJ in Texas Hill Country

FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS – Last month, while in the midst of the maelstrom and madness that was the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, I decided to take a somewhat presidential escape and participate in a press tour of the Texas Hill Country region, and follow in the footsteps of the 36^th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson, or LBJ for short.

Johnson, who served as president from 1963 to 1969, was known for his hardworking, bombastic style of leadership, especially when it came to working with the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to pass much vital legislation. Although his presidency will forever be known for being bogged in the quagmire of the Vietnam War, Johnson’s administration was also known for passing a great multitude of social legislation as part of his “Great Society” program, such as the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,  and Head Start.

However, when the stresses of Washington, D.C. and the White House got to be too much for him, LBJ would board Air Force One to the Hill Country, in particular, his ranch in Stonewall, Texas, where he could get some work done, entertain VIPs and heads of state, and physically and emotionally recharge his batteries in the much-relaxed atmosphere of the sprawling 2700 acres that made up his ranch. In fact, he spent a total of 490 days of his administration taking care of the business of the nation and relaxing at the ranch.

“This is a special corner of God’s real estate,” Johnson once said about his beloved Texas home. “It really moulds the character of people.”

In 1972, a year before his death, LBJ and his wife Lady Bird Johnson donated 600 acres of the ranch area to the U.S. National Parks Service, as a means to share the beauty of the Texas Hill Country landscape and the historic places that not only shaped his life, but also the history of the state of Texas. The end result was the LBJ State Park and Historic Site  and the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.

Inside LBJ's Texas White House office

This impressive historical complex, which attracts about 75,000 visitors annually, is jointly operated by the State of Texas and the U.S. National Parks Service, and is dedicated to preserving the life and legacy of Lyndon B. Johnson and his pioneering Texas roots. Through visiting the preserved properties that were associated with his life, such as his birthplace and boyhood home, the Junction School one-room schoolhouse where he spent his early school days and the Texas White House, you get the authentic story of LBJ by literally following in his footsteps.

To get a vivid idea of what life was like in LBJ’s Texas world before he embarked on his political career, check out the Sauer-Beckmann Farm to start your visit. This farmhouse was actually resided by a family who were the Johnson family’s neighbours about a century ago. What is so amazing about visiting this farmhouse is that the people who serve as your guides (all of them volunteers) not only wear authentic clothing from that period (circa 1916), but they conduct actual homestead chores and prepare meals using the tools and appliances from that era, without any modern technological convenience in sight.

As you make your way along the trail to the Texas White House, you can’t miss the presence of the many Hereford cows that LBJ raised through his lifetime that still roam around the property. Make sure to visit the Show Barn facility, which was built 50 years ago. During his presidency, when Johnson hosted many special guests and heads of state at the ranch, he made it a point to make the Show Barn a stop on his personal guided tours of the ranch, and showed off the cattle and show bulls he raised at the barn, to give them the idea of what a typical Texas ranch looked like, which also helped to soften or change any negative opinions these visitors might have had of him. Also, the Show Barn is still run as a functioning  cattle ranch, in which the livestock still sport the distinctive “LBJ” brand on their horns.

Another stop to make before visiting the Texas White House is LBJ’s personal airplane hangar, which also serves as the visitor centre and the gift and book shop, where you can purchase a wide range of books about LBJ and his presidency (including Robert A. Caro’s monumental four-volume biography of LBJ), replicas of his famous Stetson hat, and even an LBJ bobble head figurine. For an ideal souvenir of your visit to the LBJ Ranch, I recommend purchasing a copy of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park audio CD/DVD package, which costs only $7. The audio CD contains detailed descriptions of 18 of the sites that make up the entire facility (which includes quotes from LBJ himself, along with his daughters Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb, as well as the Reverend Billy Graham and Johnson administration aide Joseph Califano); the DVD contains 39 photographs of the site, as well as a selection of documentary featurettes, including a 1968 tour of the ranch that was personally conducted by LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson (and judging by the relaxed tone of voice LBJ uses when he speaks in this doc, it readily shows how the ranch and the house was such an important part of his life throughout his 64 years).

The hangar also has a mini theatre, which shows a 14-minute featurette film about the story of LBJ and the Texas White House (highly recommended). Also, it stores the many presidential souvenir items in their original packaging, such as cigarette lighters, cufflinks and his trademark Stetson hat, that LBJ loved to give to visitors as gifts, as well as his small private jet plane that he used for his short flights to the ranch (which he referred to as “Air Force One-Half”).

The living room at the Texas White House

The Texas White House itself, which was officially opened to the public in 2008, a year after Lady Bird’s death and to mark the 100^th anniversary of LBJ’s birth, is a testament to the relaxed, laid back way of life the Johnson family enjoyed during their time there. Compared to the opulent residences of some of LBJ’s presidential predecessors – such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello --  Johnson’s Texas White House is indeed quite modest-looking, yet no less comfortable. Whether it be the living room (with LBJ’s trademark three TV sets placed side by side, so he could watch the newscasts of CBS, NBC and ABC simultaneously and Lady Bird could watch her favorite TV show “Gunsmoke”, and the table where he liked to play dominoes), his wood-panelled office, the kitchen (in which the clocks are fixed at 1 p.m., the exact time on November 22, 1963 when John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead and Johnson officially became president) or his separate bedroom (which had a phone console with several phone lines … a similar device was also installed in the nearby bathroom), the visitor gets the impression that the Texas White House was not a museum piece, but a place where LBJ really did call home and was where he can retreat from the crazy world of the Washington corridors of power, yet not lose sight of his presidential responsibilities. Visits to the Texas White House are done via guided tours only (tickets are available for purchase at the airplane hangar visitor centre); the national park rangers who conduct the tours are excellent and have a vast knowledge of the world of Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, and what this house meant to them.

After experiencing the life and world of Lyndon B. Johnson and his family by visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, it gave me an eye-opening glance at the human side of this controversial president beyond the upheaval of the 60s that made up a great deal of his presidency. I can readily understand why he wanted to share his home with the rest of the world, which was echoed in the message that was inscribed on the mat that is placed on the front door of the Texas White House: “All the World is Welcome Here”.

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For more information about visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, go to www.nps.gov/lyjo. And to find out more about the Texas Hill Country region, in particular the city of Fredericksburg, and what is has to offer, go to wwwvisitfredericksburgtx.com.

(This article originally appeared in the November 9, 2016 edition of "Wednesday")

Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation holds successful masked ball

Over 400 people attended the 6^th edition of the Incognito Masked Ball, which was held by Young Leaders Circle of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation on October 28, at the Entrepots Dominion, on St. Ambroise Street.

Presented by Engel & Volkers and McGill Real Estate, this year’s Incognito Masked Ball went under the theme of “Meet Me at the Ball”. The multitude of guests were dressed in their semi-formal cocktail chic and masked best,  whether it be Halloween style, classic masquerade, super heroes, commedia dell’arte or even Star Wars. As soon as they entered the site of the ball, they were greeted by some unique musical entertainment, which included a pair of Genji pianists from Japan, who played a selection of classic and contemporary compositions in tandem without breaking their rhythm, and Gabrielle, a local violinist who played the instrument with a great deal of flair and passion.

The main site of the masked ball was a breathtaking mixture of light, music and several stations that gave the guests an ambiance of romance, mystery, reverie and roses in an enchanted fairy tale setting. There were photo booths, an oyster raw bar, a candy bar, a “truth or dare” table that was sponsored by Apothic Wines (in which guests can choose a truth or dare card and write or perform whatever is requested on the card in question), and a silent auction table, where guests can bid on a large selection of top drawer items such as jewellery, cosmetic gift baskets, hotel packages, a Mountain Lake PBS mother/daughter surprise box, a McLaren Team F1 hat autographed by one the team drivers, and a Montreal Canadiens jersey signed by Alexander Galchenyuk. 

Proceeds from the masked ball benefitted the hospital’s H.B. Williams Craniofacial and Cleft Surgery Unit, so that it could continue to remain at the forefront of both these important surgical fields across Quebec and Canada, and continue its mission of aiding and treating children with craniofacial disorders, which affect the bones of both the skull and the face. The ball is one of the events that is organized by the Young Leaders Circle, whose mission is to make a positive impact on pediatric care in Quebec through original, creative fundraising programs.

Cote St. Luc synagogue welcomes new spiritual leader Rabbi

Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich of the TBDJ Synagogue

When Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich officially assumed the post of spiritual leader of the Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (TBDJ) Synagogue in Cote St. Luc this past August, after serving as an Associate Rabbi for a synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia since 2007, one of the first conversations he had with a member of the TBDJ congregation dealt with a matter that was more meteorological than spiritual.

“The weather was indeed a starting point. It was 88 degrees that day, and he told me that it must have felt more like the temperature in Atlanta for me. I replied to him that after being used to a place where the temperature would be 96 degrees with the humidity at 11 a.m., 88 degrees was gorgeous for me,” said Rabbi Freundlich during a private luncheon with several journalists early last month.

Born the son of Holocaust survivors in Louisville, Kentucky and raised in New Jersey, Rabbi Freundlich (or “Rabbi Y”, as he was affectionately known as by the members of his congregation in Atlanta), brings to the TBDJ a wealth of experience and knowledge. He holds three degrees (including a Master of Science Degree in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University); was part of group in Atlanta that promoted personal and religious growth through family meetings, personal development classes and social programming; directed an advanced nightly Torah study group and held outreach sessions for university students and preschool parents; developed and produced a “Strengthen Your Marriage” workshop that was presented across the U.S.; and developed a “3 Minute Parenting Through the Parsha” online video series.

Rabbi Freundlich, who replaced Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, the TBDJ’s spiritual leader for 19 years who left the synagogue to accept a position in New York, was part of rigorous selection process that began nearly a year ago. But what was so unique about it was that the members of the congregation took an active role in the process as well.

“The committee decided to involve the members in the selection process,” said TBDJ President Judah Aspler. “We sent out a survey to them, so they could provide us with the necessary feedback, and it helped solidify the criteria of what we were looking for in a spiritual leader.” After the final three candidates were chosen, they were invited to spend a weekend with the members to give them a hands-on feel of what the synagogue, its members and the community were all about, and participated in a wide range of activities from services to classes, to personally interacting with the members. “Each of our guest Rabbis commented to me on how impressed they were by what they saw in terms of member involvement, care and passion for the shul,” said Aspler. “Our candidates were impressed, and I think we all were as well. We demonstrated who we are, and who we will be.”

When Rabbi Freundlich was officially selected to lead the TBDJ, he and his wife Rifki, along with their seven children ranging in ages from 3 to 16, were given a large scale Shabbt dinner on August 19 to formally welcome them to the community, which attracted over 300 people.

Rabbi Freundlich realizes he has big shoes to fill as the successor to a long-serving and popular spiritual leader, and wants to make the synagogue a vibrant focal point of the community. “I know it is very hard to fill the shoes of such a beloved rabbi, especially the impact Rabbi Steinmetz made on the shul and how he left it as a very strong place,” he said. “I would like it to be a vibrant place both socially and spiritually, and engage more people to what we have to offer, so that it can be an important centre of the community, and an important place in people’s lives.”

As well, Rabbi Freundlich and his family relished the exciting challenge of adjusting to a new way of life in Montreal, especially adapting to its unique culture and learning how to speak French. “I like Montreal because it’s such a diverse, multicultural city. And we are bringing our car in from Atlanta so we can get around the city much easier. And all that road construction? Well, I believe that’s being done so that the roads can be fixed up especially for me and my family,” he said. “And I was a big sports fan when I was in Atlanta, so I am looking forward to finally support a winning team in Montreal!”

Cross Kill by James Patterson (Little, Brown, $5.95)

Let’s face it. Mega best selling author James Patterson is a virtual writing machine.

Every year, Patterson and his team of co-authors release a slew of books, which are usually his series of best-selling thrillers, such as the crime thrillers involving Washington, D.C. police detective Alex Cross, the Womens’ Murder Club and the Michael Bennett mysteries, amongst others.

This past summer, Patterson’s publisher Little, Brown introduced a new way to enjoy and appreciate his prolific output of novels, which are called “Bookshots”.

Advertised as “stories at the speed of life”, Bookshots are a continuous series of compact, affordably-priced paperbacks, in which new titles  are released on a regular basis, and feature many of Patterson’s best-known series of books. Basically, you can read a James Patterson Bookshots release in one sitting (or maybe two, but no more than that).

The question for Patterson’s many fans is can a condensed, shorter version of one of his novels be as captivating and entertaining as his full length ones? Well, after reading Cross Kill, the first book issued in the Bookshots, the answer is a resounding “yes”.

In beginning of this story, Alex Cross and his police partner John Sampson are seen volunteering their time at a local elementary school breakfast program, when they are unexpectedly ambushed by a lone gunman. Cross survives the fusillade of bullets, but Sampson suffers a serious bullet wound to the head that becomes life threatening.

However, the eerie thing about this deadly assault is that the gunman resembles serial killer Gary Soneji, who was pursued by Cross in one of his earlier thrillers Along Came A Spider. The strange thing is that it can’t be Soneji, because Cross saw him meet a fiery death at the end of that story. …Or is Soneji really alive and didn’t really have an incinerating death?

Seeing the first titles in the Bookshots series on display at a magazine store in Milwaukee this past July reminded me of what Signet Books did 20 years ago with Stephen King’s novel The Green Mile, and decided to issue the story in six monthly installments in the form of attractive, easy-to-read compact pocket paperbacks. All six installments became instant best sellers, and are regarded as collector’s items after The Green Mile was re-issued in a single volume. Bookshots is indeed a new way to enjoy James Patterson’s growing fiction library. And it does succeed, because they are just as thrilling and suspenseful, but at a fraction of the size. And the narrative of Cross Kill provides a couple of interesting plot twists at the end that leave the reader waiting in anticipation for the next Alex Cross installment in the Bookshots series.

This new series of books is great reading for those on their public transit commute to work, or for those long waits at the airport.

Spike Lee wows large audience at Black film festival appearance with Michael Jackson documentary

Acclaimed film director Spike Lee has been a life-long fan of Michael Jackson and his music. “His joy for life was demonstrated in his music and performing,” he said. “And in turn, he has had a lasting impact on a new generation of artists.”

Lee was in town on October 1 for a special screening to mark the Canadian premiere of his documentary “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall”, as part of the 12^th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival, and attracted a huge crowd that packed the Hall Theatre at Concordia University.

Through plenty of concert footage, TV appearances and interviews with many of Jackson’s contemporaries (i.e. Berry Gordy, Suzanne de Passe, Valerie Simpson), family members (brothers Marlon and Jackie), and some of today’s leading recording artists (i.e., John Legend, Pharrell Williams and even Kobe Bryant), Lee chronicles the crucial 10-year period from 1969 to 1979 when Michael Jackson transformed himself from the cute idol of millions of teenyboppers to the iconic King of Pop.

The second half of the documentary is dedicated to Jackson’s monumental 1979 album “Off the Wall” and through those interviews, concert footage and early music videos, gives a song-by-song examination of how and why “Off the Wall” was so important to the rock music world in general, and the future path of Jackson’s career in particular. It was amazing to see how many of the interviewees got giddy when they were discussing the songs, whether they had a role in its production or not, and how much they enjoyed listening to them when they were first released, as well as onto the present day.

Following the screening, Lee held a question and answer session with festival founder and president Fabienne Colas. Sporting San Francisco 49ers/Colin Kaepernick gear, Lee answered a steady stream of questions from the members of the packed crowd, ranging from Michael Jackson’s impact on pop music, how he put together the documentary, his life as a filmmaker, and even some current issues that are currently making the headlines.

Here is a sampling of what Lee said that night:

-On Donald Trump: “Right now, the election has gotten to the point where you have to flip a coin, and that’s scary. Can you imagine Trump with the nuclear codes? It’s more like WTF. This is a scary time right now in America.”

-On former Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban: “Why did they trade my man? He was the face of the team. They should have traded him to the New York Rangers.”

On being an acclaimed, award-winning filmmaker: “This is a dream job for me. When you get to do what you love – and make a living doing what you love – you’re blessed.”

As well, Lee revealed that he is currently working on a 10-episode series for Netflix based on one of his early films, “She’s Gotta Have It”, which follows the characters, and what has happened to them since the time of the film’s release. He also hinted about the possibility of a third documentary about Michael Jackson, which would deal with the story behind his legendary 1982 album “Thriller”.

(This article originally appeared in the Oct. 5, 2016 edition of "Wednesday", the Montreal Times' online-only arts & lifestyles publication).

Door County: exploring the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”

DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN – When you visit the area known as Door County, and notice its many charming small towns and villages, its clapboard structures, marinas, beaches and the numerous sailboats and motorboats that make up its maritime traffic, you can’t help to think that someone cut out a chunk of the New England coast and plunked it down in a thumbed-shaped peninsula that juts out of the north eastern side of Wisconsin.

For decades, this peninsular jewel that’s surrounded by Green Bay and Lake Michigan was the ideal summer vacation haven for many Wisconsin and Illinois residents. However, the beauty of Door County gained the world’s attention when a lengthy piece on the area was published in the March 1969 issue of “National Geographic” magazine.

“As an alien thumb of land on the corn-knuckled fist of the Middle West, the Door Peninsula, with its 250 miles of shoreline, draws expression of surprise from first-time visitors,” wrote William S. Ellis, its author. “More often than not, the reactions invoke references to New England, such as ‘Cape Cod on an inland sea.’”

…Not bad for an area that was once referred to by French explorers more than 300 years ago as the “Porte des Morts”, or the “Door of Death”, because the rather hazardous conditions on the peninsula’s northern tip was the chief factor behind the hundreds of shipwrecks that occurred there (hence the reason why it was named Door County).

During a four-day period this past August, I got the chance to experience Door County during a press tour that emphasized its many attractions for those who enjoy outdoor recreation; our focus were on four villages located on the north western side of the peninsula: Egg Harbor, Sister Bay, Fish Creek and Ephraim, with Peninsula State Park serving as the nucleus. For those who like camping, hiking, cycling, kayaking and boating, Door County is the destination for you.

But for those who are visiting the area for the first time, I highly recommend taking a Door County Trolley tour (www.doorcountytrolley.com) to properly familiarize and orient yourself to what the area has to offer and what villages and attractions you would like to see during your visit. Our group took the narrated scenic tour, where we got not only the chance to see many of the stunning scenic bluffs that over look the islands of the area, but learned a lot about the legends and lore behind Door County’s colourful history, from the bloody battles between the Winnebago and Potawatomi tribes, to the settlement of the area by Scandinavian immigrants (and at certain stops, the trolley allows passengers to disembark and take photos). As well, they offer nine other thematic trolley tours, from lighthouses, to food, to wine to their very popular ghost tours.

Not being the overly adventurous type, I decided to explore parts of Door County via boat (but letting someone experienced do the driving). For those who like an adrenaline kick when they take a boat tour, try Door County Adventure Rafting (www.doorcountyadventurerafting.com). Our skipper, Captain Matt Olson, gave us a high-octane ride on his motorized rubber raft (complete with his repertoire of kick ass rock tunes that he played throughout our journey) as we explored some of the hard-to reach islands, lighthouses and geographic wonders along the coast, including my favorite Eagle Cave, which is inhabited by hundreds of bats. And if you go with Captain Matt on a ride when the water is quite choppy (which happened when I took the tour), bring a rain jacket or poncho … you will get wet!

A more relaxed, yet no less informative, boat tour of the peninsula was courtesy of a narrated boat cruise onboard “The Shoreline” (www.shorelinecharters.net). Launching from the peninsula’s most northern tip at Gills Rock, the two-hour tour was a captivating look at the maritime beauty of northern Door County, including its many lighthouses, limestone cliffs, preserved shipwrecks (some, including one that dated back to the Civil War, can be seen with the naked eye) and islands, both populated and isolated. One part of the tour that caught my attention was Pilot Island, which our guide jokingly referred to as “Alfred Hitchcock’s summer home” (pictured above). Originally, I was not aware that the Master of Suspense actually had a summer retreat in this area; and as we got closer to the island, I easily understood the reason behind the Hitchcock reference. The island, which houses a lighthouse and a foghorn station (both now abandoned and victim to years of decay), is now an official state bird refuge. And seeing practically every inch of the small island (and both structures) covered with birds of all kinds was a rather eerie, visual reminder of Hitchcock’s 1963 classic thriller “The Birds”. Although visually fascinating, I cautiously kept still and quiet, so that I would not rouse the many flocks of birds and have them to do me and my fellow journalists like what they did to Tippi Hedren towards the end of the movie.

One evening during our stay, we took an arts and culture break and experienced a performance by the Northern Sky Theatre (www.northernskytheatre.com) troupe, and gave us a vivid example what summer stock and regional theatre are all about. Throughout its summer season (which runs from mid-June until the end of August), the troupe – which makes its home in the beautiful outdoor Northern Sky Amphitheatre that’s located in Peninsula State Park – perform four original, 90-minute family-oriented productions eight times a week, all accompanied with a live musical quartet. What makes this troupe so unique is that they do not perform adaptations of popular Broadway plays or musicals, but productions that have a local flavour to them. The show we saw on the night in question was “Doctor! Doctor!”, an entertaining musical comedy set during the 1930s, in which a young doctor from the big city (Milwaukee) is about to take over his uncle’s medical practice in one of Door County’s small towns .. yet somehow the residents are rather reluctant to adapt to the new doctor in town. And during September and October, Northern Sky Theatre has its fall season, in which two productions are performed at two indoor venues in Fish Creek.

…And now, a few words about the food: When it comes to the food in Door County, two things come to mind: cherries and fish.

First, the cherries. For a period of 100 years – between the 1860s and the 1960s – Door County was regarded as the top cherry producer in the United States (it was even referred to as “Cherry Land USA”). Although it has not retained that status, Door County is still a leading producer of the fruit, with over 2500 acres that grow tart cherries and 50 acres of sweet cherries, and still produces over 12 million pounds a year. No matter where you go throughout Door County, you can’t ignore its cherry presence. There are countless orchards, restaurants and farmer’s markets that offer everything from cherry pies, cherry pie filling, cherry jams and preserves and my favorites, cherry cobbler and dark chocolate-covered cherries.

 

Second, the fish. Perhaps the most dominant type of fish that inhabits the Door County area is whitefish. But half the fun of eating that whitefish is witnessing how it’s uniquely prepared. That’s where the “fish boil” comes into the picture. Dating back to the area’s Scandinavian settlers, a typical fish boil is an event unto itself. Basically, the ingredients are gradually placed into a large cauldron of water that boils over a wood fire by the boilmaster (first the salt, followed by the onions, potatoes and then the chunks of whitefish). The boil comes to a visually stunning climax when the boilmaster throws kerosene into the fire, and in a quick massive ball of fire, all of the oil that gives the fish its fishy taste and essence are boiled away, leaving a sweet, delicious taste to the fish. We caught a typical Door County fish boil at the Rowleys Bay Resort (www.rowleysbayresort.com), located on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula (pictured above). Before the dinner, we sat around the cauldron and in between ingredients, “Peter Rowley” (actually one of two local retired college history professors) tells in his inimitable way stories dealing with Rowleys Bay’s colourful past as the fish is being boiled for dinner. Once the cooking portion is done, guests try the boiled fish (which is great when you combine it with the onions and potatoes) at the resort’s restaurant, which also includes an impressive 14 foot-long, all-you-can-eat buffet. The fish boil takes place at the resort every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night starting at 4:30 p.m., and reservations are recommended.

And finally, here are three Door County restaurants that you must visit for your dining pleasure. Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant (www.aljohnsons.com) in Sister Bay is a family-owned restaurant that offers diners an authentic taste of Sweden (I recommend the Swedish pancakes, garnished with tangy lingonberries). One peculiar thing that I noticed about the log cabin-type structure of the restaurant is that the roof was covered entirely in grass. And then I found out why; every morning around 8:15, three goats are brought on the roof to graze on its grass-laden covering, which certainly attracts the attention of anyone who passes by the place.

Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor (www.wilsonsicecream.com) in Ephraim has been a fixture in Door County since 1906. And once you step inside, you are automatically taken back in time to when soda fountains and ice cream parlours were a cornerstone on every small town main street. This memorabilia-filled restaurant is a treat to experience (complete with mini 1950s jukeboxes at every booth), and the menu is a delicious throwback. And don’t forget dessert … malteds, ice cream sodas, milk shakes and sundaes are prepared and presented the way they are meant to be, in those classic tall soda fountain glasses with those long, thin spoons (and I highly recommend the Dark Secret sundae, which is the ideal dessert for chocoholics everywhere).

If you want good food with a great view, go to Fred & Fuzzy’s Waterfront Grill in Sister Bay (www.fredandfuzzys.com). Located on the shores of Little Sister Resort, Fred & Fuzzy’s offers the ultimate outdoor dining experience, with a wonderful view of the marina that adjoins the restaurant and the multitude of boats that are docked there (and looks even better when the sun sets). And the restaurant’s large menu includes its series of signature grilled sandwiches (I tried their delicious tenderloin steak sandwich), and their famous cherry margaritas.

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For more information about visiting Door County, and what it has to offer tourists,  visit their website at www.doorcounty.com. Special thanks to Jon Jarosh, communications and PR director of the Door County Visitor Bureau, for his tremendous assistance during and after the tour.

(This article originally appeared in the Sept. 28, 2016 edition of "Wednesday").