Hartville. Welcomed by the café’s official dress code–jeans and ball caps–I felt at home on Rolla Street next to Bullfrogs Pawn, bathed in the aroma of bean soup and the promise of blue plate specials. Betty always dreamed of owning … Read More
Road trip stories
These books are not suitable for everybody. Not good for narrow views or asphalt brains. Keep them away from burning bridges. Avoid gifting to anybody who thinks “my way or the highway” is covered in the Ninth Amendment. They’re not … Read More
Carnival Without People
A carny sleeps off the Midland, Texas morning. A ride called The Tornado stayed folded in its trailer. “…there was no motion. Nobody coming or going. There were no carnies or talkers or troupers, no roustabouts or ride jockeys, no … Read More
World’s Largest Chile
Yeah, technically the world’s largest Chile wraps around South America’s tail. But there’s another big damn chile in Las Cruces, too, laying on its side like a Rubens model. Las Cruces embraces New Mexico’s greatest product: We pulled into Big … Read More
Ready to fight the world? Get a dose of homestyle instead
In my earliest memory, before they got rid of highway lips, before time, before anything, there was Nick’s Homestead. In any spot, at any time of day, I react willingly to those three magic words, “Pass the gravy.” Friends gathered … Read More
UFO?
Relax, it’s a street lamp in Hershey, PA. But if this giant Kiss was a UFO, where would it hide? Beneath the boughs in Hershey Gardens.
Cape May
Gorgeous summer homes line Cape May’s neighborhood streets along the Jersey shore. We couldn’t decide which home to pick. So tonight we’re sleeping in the lifeboat.
Pair of Kings
Towering over the Elvis Is Alive Museum, the sixteen-foot plywood Elvis cutout stood resplendent in his high collared jumpsuit and jet-black pompadour, bent toward his interstate fans, holding a microphone to his curled upper lip. As far as plywood Elvis … Read More