Recently I sold my home and during one of the many weekends spent packing Rachel and I decided to take break from this very labor intensive task and just get away for a few hours…destination the Purple Fiddle. Located in beautiful Thomas West Virginia, a quick yet scenic trip just an hour and half drive over the mountain from Morgantown.
The trip east across West Virginia mountains and south through Maryland countryside are at their best this time of year offering up abundant foliage and mild weather as well, although the late night return offered a thick blanket of fog thus creating a return trip that lasted well over two hours. None the less the trip up the mountain via I-68 east and south on RT 42 from Friendsville was pleasing to the eye and once we connected with RT 219 south the ride opened up to pasture vistas second to none.
The trip like they say can be the best part of any destination travel, offering the typical road side amenities, which included some unique offerings unseen in most of the country, but are taken for granted by locals in the area; such is the case with the Smallest Church east of the Mississippi, power generating wind mills which loom over the hilltops like mouments to greek gods and the headwaters of the Potomac which at this elevation is only a small spring.
Just minutes from the Potomac headwaters you find the small community of Thomas WV home of the Purple Fiddle our intended destination. This tiny little community tucked away in a remote region of Tucker County WV offers just one road in and one road out of town …literally. Entering the tiny hamlet from the north you arrive on Main Street on what appears to be very wide thoroughfare, of course this wide country lane can be deceptive most of which is shared parking limited to business’s within Thomas. Exiting town, if traveling north you leave town on a second street located above the first, sandwiched between the upper and lower streets lies the community of Thomas West Virginia.
As any traveler will certainly notice upon arriving in Thomas is its unique architecture along its thoroughfare harking back to its boom years when timber and coal where the principle employment in the area with their “company store look” applied to most shops and business’s, except for the Purple Fiddle. It is not hard to distinguish which building houses the Purple Fiddle mounted over the portico entering the establishment hangs a six foot tall purple fiddle!
Along with the special marker perched precariously above the door what one soon realizes when entering the Purple Fiddle is that you are readying yourself for a very special experience, if not a one of a kind experience and part of that experience includes the menu and furnishings. The restaurant offers up a very unusual yet inviting atmosphere with its miss matched tables and chairs and collection of “stuff”; which includes the likes of environmental newspaper resting on the knee wall, to the quilts which make up the back drop for the live performances, while church pews await those late arriving individuals who have simply stopped by to enjoy the live bluegrass performances which is offered up thrice weekly.
While you wait for the talent to take the stage around 9:00 find a table if you can… seating is limited to around 75 guests and it pays to find a table as early as 7:00 and just sit back and try something from the menu. Trust us you will not be disappointed. Rachel and I always try and order something different then the other allowing each to share in the others menu selection. This particular evening I had the pork gyro and Rachel had the coleslaw, organic rice and beef barbeque wrap, both were excellent and the portions were generous. As for beverages Rachel sampled a simple Merlot and I tried a very nice organic beer from Germany,Pinccus Honey Wheat, but be ready it only comes in an 18 oz bottle and two of these hardy beers will have you looking for a designated driver. All totaled we spent less the $25.00 which included the tip.
While the kitchen and menu are managed by one of two proprietors the other handles booking talent several months in advance of their performance. Handled is a word I use loosely only because most acts desire time on the stage at the Purple Fiddle, the Fiddle has gained US and UK notoriety since is humble start with more then a few bluegrass acts adding the Fiddle to their list of must perform places.
The entertainment matched the menu, earthy, organic and off the beaten path. While the music was performed by a New York based band the the sound was pure appalachian. Delayed by fog and the tardiness of the sound operator the band started a little late, however late is ok considering the caliber of the talent. A complete list of future performances can be found by visiting http://purplefiddle.com/mmschedule.html Please note that all though you are not charged a cover charge when you enter, someone will certainly stop by your table to collect $7.00 soon after the bands starts, this paltry sum is very much a bargain considering the quality of the talent. At first I thought the idea of collecting the fee after the band began to play a little odd, but actually this is made very good business. One family who had just stopped by for dinner was pretty much locked into seeing the entire show once their three year old began tapping her foot in perfect rhythm with the band.
If you could define the audience this evening it would be very much like the restaurant itself... very ecclectic from the girls in the corner who each had their own bottle of wine, to the old timer who just seemed to "hang out", to the young couple with children; strangely enough all seemed to fit the character of the establishment.
Both, Rachel and I would strongly suggest anyone planning a trip to Thomas arrange a little extra time to travel around the area. The town itself offers many unique shops while the region also offers Blackwater Falls just minutes away, as well as Canaan Valley. If shopping is really a must then consider Mountainmade (yes I did spell the business name correctly), a very nice outlet located in former grade school which showcases West Virginia made crafts and goods; which includes fresh honey, WV wines and pottery to name but a few things to entice the wallet.
As mentioned earlier the fog became an issue on our return trip, but we dealt with it and were in no hurry to get home. Although an option would have been to stay the night in the B&B next door to the Purple Fiddle,The Fiddlers Roost, we thought better and decided not to stay the night. Maybe next time we will check out the The Roost on our return visit, I will admitt the little place did remind me of a little hotel just outside Mt. Storm WV, I stumbled across it one late April night…but that’s a story for another day.
Robert & Rachel
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
DESTINATION... DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Some time after Rachel and I met we decided to take our first of what would be many travel excursions together; our chosen destination…Washington D.C. It had been many years since Rachel's last visit to the Capitol City, visiting only once just after college with her sister Leanna in the early 1990’s when Leanna was considering the idea of joining the Peace Corp. As for me, DC is a short three hour drive from Morgantown WV and I tend to find myself in DC quite often, exploring different museums, exhibits and memorials as they are opened to the public.
The whole premise behind this weekend trip is like many new couples we just wanted to get away from the everyday grind and delve into the compatibility aspect of our relationship as it turned out Rachel was very content with me making all the arrangements for our small getaway. What I needed to realize early on is that although Rachel does enjoy the travel she tends to leave the travel arrangements to me rather then get involved. Not to say she doesn’t bring something to the table as a matter of fact Rachel is very capable navigator, keeping me on course and preventing the occasional red traffic light violation from occurring. Anyone who knows me or has traveled with me will testify to my frequent wrong way on a one way street episodes and the occasional abrupt stops due to someone in the back seat screaming out “RED LIGHT!” just before I commit the violation.
Bearing this in mind if to date you have not visited the nations capitol by all means do so, it is a very accommodating city to both young and old. However, I would caution those that do venture driving within the DC city limits, be forewarned it is a beast all its own and highly detailed street map is essential. If driving in 100 degree heat is not to your liking I suggest taking advantage of the Metro Commuter system…easy to use, very affordable and most travel destinations are located within minutes of each station. If your trip is to two or more days I would strongly suggest day passes and not the individual passes. The day passes also reduce time between destinations.
Again as mentioned, I visit DC on a regular basis and know that great discount times to visit DC exsist during the cooler months prior to the Cherry Blossom Festival held each year in early April. If a weekend excursions is in your plans arriving in DC late Friday evening you quickly discover all museums are closed, so I would recommend a great way to see some of our more cherished memorials is to take a walk after dark from the Washington Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial along the reflecting pool. Along the way one can casually explore the WWII Memorial, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorial. Parking just walking minutes from the Washington Memorial afforded Rachel and me the ease of getting back to the car if rain were to set in. Surprising DC seems to have a very mild winter temperature and the walk was more like a spring evening then the colder climate we had just left behind in Morgantown.
In addition to the surprisingly fair weather is the unique way in which the memorials are lit for safety and the amount of visitors out and about after 10:00pm taking in the same sights we were enjoying. I might add at this point that the DC metro police and National Park Service(NPS) do a wonderful job of patrolling the national monuments. Patrolling from both car and horse back with additional NPS positioned at all monuments. Visiting our national treasures during the waning ours of the day can be very enjoyable. First, you beat the mass of sightseers you typically incur during the day, which then allows you to read what might be engraved on the walls around you. Secondly, it lends itself to some very interesting photographic opportunities and lastly it can and is very romantic with the skyline of DC and the quiet feeling associated with this time of evening.
The second day of our trip began with breakfast at the Hilton, again a great room rate for this time of year. I would suggest anyone planning to visit DC check on line with the Hotels.com regarding rates then call the hotel of choice directly. Bargains can be found and the hotel manager is the only one who may approve discounts and knowing the online rate in advance affords you a little bargaining tool. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts even though you don’t belong to AAA or some other organization. Just ask! What’s the worst that could happen they tell you no? The best case scenario is you save $10-15 dollars or more a night… you could then apply those savings to nice bottle of wine or few cold beers at a local brew pub.
While were on the topic of eating make sure you stop and visit the brew pub located in the old postal building next door to Union Station, great food for both family and couples looking to escape the heat or prop up their legs after a day of taking in the sites.
Day two included visits to only two of DC numerous museums; Rachel in advance of our trip had chosen the Holocaust Memorial/ Museum and the Native American Museum. Rachel choose these two museums for several reasons, first she could study the Holocaust show path presentation for her own museum project back home and secondly it is one of the few museums to date I have not seen in DC.
Again a little planning is in order prior to visiting DC and it goes along way in making any trip enjoyable, thus taking the time to go online or make a phone call prior to visiting the museum of choice may save you some time and headaches later. As is the case with the Holocaust Museum, it helped to discover before our arrival that advance tickets are required in order to see the standing exhibit, not that these cost anything extra. As a matter of fact tickets for the exhibit are handed out once inside, but only during the off season during the peak season it is wise to get your ticket early rather then wait and miss visiting this museum while in DC. Tickets simply dictate when you are scheduled to see the permanent exhibits; when ordering your tickets online you may request different viewing times as well. I would advise you plan 2-3 hours once inside, this particular memorial offers a lot of visual material to consume and information to read. This is a must see museum for any novice historian or sheep skin carrying PhD.
Our second museum visit included a short walk from the hotel to the Native American Museum once inside you were greeted by numerous artic tribe displays; including kayaks and various polar bear and seal hunting gear. The exterior of the museum itself stands out among the other museums throughout DC lending itself more to the mountain region of New Mexico and the cliff dwelling tribes of the region…very impressive.
The interior of the museum was in my opinion somewhat disappointing offering very little of the heritage of the Native American , but rather building a case by a case presentation of the gradual assimilation of Native Americans into the American culture. Simply stated “this is who we are now” exhibit was the rule of thumb when constructing this particular museum. In all honesty this museum did little to appease my appetite for the Native American culture, the use of technology overwhelms the visitor distracting the eye with monitors and small visual aids throughout. Some years ago I had visited this museum with my children, thiers and my response to the museum is the same as it was then…it falls well short of being a museum high on my list to visit again.
Sunday arrives, breakfast is consumed and we hit the road after a short layover at Starbuck’s… regular coffee, latte and big brownie to go! On the road with hot beverages in cup holders we set out to find the National Cathedral. Traveling NW through the Embassy Row section of DC and just around the corner from the Vice Presidents home we find the Cathedral spires reaching out to us long before we reach the top on the hill on which the Cathedral is perched. Construction of the Cathedral began in the early 1900’s and was finally dedicated in the early 1990’s almost one hundred years later. If DC is to lay claim to one structure that should not go unvisited it must be our National Cathedral, offering seating for perhaps thousands at any one service, stained glass, and Gothic architecture second to none here in America, while offering a glimpe into European architecture. Service is performed by the Episcopal divinity and is open to the public, excluding major Christian holidays whereupon tickets for admission are needed. Contact your local House of Representatives member for advance tickets.
Spiritual and mentally full we make haste to get back to Morgantown before dark, however Rachel had other plans which in turn slowed the return trip. Unbeknownst to me Rachel has family in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia….but that’s another story for another day.
The whole premise behind this weekend trip is like many new couples we just wanted to get away from the everyday grind and delve into the compatibility aspect of our relationship as it turned out Rachel was very content with me making all the arrangements for our small getaway. What I needed to realize early on is that although Rachel does enjoy the travel she tends to leave the travel arrangements to me rather then get involved. Not to say she doesn’t bring something to the table as a matter of fact Rachel is very capable navigator, keeping me on course and preventing the occasional red traffic light violation from occurring. Anyone who knows me or has traveled with me will testify to my frequent wrong way on a one way street episodes and the occasional abrupt stops due to someone in the back seat screaming out “RED LIGHT!” just before I commit the violation.
Bearing this in mind if to date you have not visited the nations capitol by all means do so, it is a very accommodating city to both young and old. However, I would caution those that do venture driving within the DC city limits, be forewarned it is a beast all its own and highly detailed street map is essential. If driving in 100 degree heat is not to your liking I suggest taking advantage of the Metro Commuter system…easy to use, very affordable and most travel destinations are located within minutes of each station. If your trip is to two or more days I would strongly suggest day passes and not the individual passes. The day passes also reduce time between destinations.
Again as mentioned, I visit DC on a regular basis and know that great discount times to visit DC exsist during the cooler months prior to the Cherry Blossom Festival held each year in early April. If a weekend excursions is in your plans arriving in DC late Friday evening you quickly discover all museums are closed, so I would recommend a great way to see some of our more cherished memorials is to take a walk after dark from the Washington Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial along the reflecting pool. Along the way one can casually explore the WWII Memorial, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorial. Parking just walking minutes from the Washington Memorial afforded Rachel and me the ease of getting back to the car if rain were to set in. Surprising DC seems to have a very mild winter temperature and the walk was more like a spring evening then the colder climate we had just left behind in Morgantown.
In addition to the surprisingly fair weather is the unique way in which the memorials are lit for safety and the amount of visitors out and about after 10:00pm taking in the same sights we were enjoying. I might add at this point that the DC metro police and National Park Service(NPS) do a wonderful job of patrolling the national monuments. Patrolling from both car and horse back with additional NPS positioned at all monuments. Visiting our national treasures during the waning ours of the day can be very enjoyable. First, you beat the mass of sightseers you typically incur during the day, which then allows you to read what might be engraved on the walls around you. Secondly, it lends itself to some very interesting photographic opportunities and lastly it can and is very romantic with the skyline of DC and the quiet feeling associated with this time of evening.
The second day of our trip began with breakfast at the Hilton, again a great room rate for this time of year. I would suggest anyone planning to visit DC check on line with the Hotels.com regarding rates then call the hotel of choice directly. Bargains can be found and the hotel manager is the only one who may approve discounts and knowing the online rate in advance affords you a little bargaining tool. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts even though you don’t belong to AAA or some other organization. Just ask! What’s the worst that could happen they tell you no? The best case scenario is you save $10-15 dollars or more a night… you could then apply those savings to nice bottle of wine or few cold beers at a local brew pub.
While were on the topic of eating make sure you stop and visit the brew pub located in the old postal building next door to Union Station, great food for both family and couples looking to escape the heat or prop up their legs after a day of taking in the sites.
Day two included visits to only two of DC numerous museums; Rachel in advance of our trip had chosen the Holocaust Memorial/ Museum and the Native American Museum. Rachel choose these two museums for several reasons, first she could study the Holocaust show path presentation for her own museum project back home and secondly it is one of the few museums to date I have not seen in DC.
Again a little planning is in order prior to visiting DC and it goes along way in making any trip enjoyable, thus taking the time to go online or make a phone call prior to visiting the museum of choice may save you some time and headaches later. As is the case with the Holocaust Museum, it helped to discover before our arrival that advance tickets are required in order to see the standing exhibit, not that these cost anything extra. As a matter of fact tickets for the exhibit are handed out once inside, but only during the off season during the peak season it is wise to get your ticket early rather then wait and miss visiting this museum while in DC. Tickets simply dictate when you are scheduled to see the permanent exhibits; when ordering your tickets online you may request different viewing times as well. I would advise you plan 2-3 hours once inside, this particular memorial offers a lot of visual material to consume and information to read. This is a must see museum for any novice historian or sheep skin carrying PhD.
Our second museum visit included a short walk from the hotel to the Native American Museum once inside you were greeted by numerous artic tribe displays; including kayaks and various polar bear and seal hunting gear. The exterior of the museum itself stands out among the other museums throughout DC lending itself more to the mountain region of New Mexico and the cliff dwelling tribes of the region…very impressive.
The interior of the museum was in my opinion somewhat disappointing offering very little of the heritage of the Native American , but rather building a case by a case presentation of the gradual assimilation of Native Americans into the American culture. Simply stated “this is who we are now” exhibit was the rule of thumb when constructing this particular museum. In all honesty this museum did little to appease my appetite for the Native American culture, the use of technology overwhelms the visitor distracting the eye with monitors and small visual aids throughout. Some years ago I had visited this museum with my children, thiers and my response to the museum is the same as it was then…it falls well short of being a museum high on my list to visit again.
Sunday arrives, breakfast is consumed and we hit the road after a short layover at Starbuck’s… regular coffee, latte and big brownie to go! On the road with hot beverages in cup holders we set out to find the National Cathedral. Traveling NW through the Embassy Row section of DC and just around the corner from the Vice Presidents home we find the Cathedral spires reaching out to us long before we reach the top on the hill on which the Cathedral is perched. Construction of the Cathedral began in the early 1900’s and was finally dedicated in the early 1990’s almost one hundred years later. If DC is to lay claim to one structure that should not go unvisited it must be our National Cathedral, offering seating for perhaps thousands at any one service, stained glass, and Gothic architecture second to none here in America, while offering a glimpe into European architecture. Service is performed by the Episcopal divinity and is open to the public, excluding major Christian holidays whereupon tickets for admission are needed. Contact your local House of Representatives member for advance tickets.
Spiritual and mentally full we make haste to get back to Morgantown before dark, however Rachel had other plans which in turn slowed the return trip. Unbeknownst to me Rachel has family in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia….but that’s another story for another day.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Getting Started: Blogging 101
While I am not a novice to blogging or maintaining my own blog it can still be very daunting, in the beginning it seems like a great idea until you actually begin crafting a blog worthy of viewing. My first blog was political in nature, an insider’s look into West Virginia politics (wvcapitolblog@blogspot.com). The experience although rewarding was just that an “experience” which I knew would allow me to hone my skills before I moved on to something a little more readable by the on-line masses. Politics is a way of life that few understand and as an insider writing about this subject matter was relatively easy. It wasn’t until I met Rachel and we began traveling together that I even considered the idea of another blog…it seemed to fit. We travel, document our journals and write while on the road or from our offices after we return.
It is our desire to add something different to the mundane Sunday afternoon drive or preplanned road trip, perhaps all it may be is a simple new perspective on sights and sounds already seen by most Americans. None the less it is what it is a travel journal.
Our travels, thus our posts may include stories about our visit to the local Liquor Barn in Lexington Kentucky or the small church we attended along the way as we traveled to visit with parents in Ritchie County West Virginia. It’s just that simple.
Trips have been numerous to date so I do have little catching up to accomplish. Seldom do we get to travel throughout the week aside from a late night dinner as we rendezvous in Flatwoods West Virginia the half way point between Morgantown and Charleston West Virginia, our respective homes for the moment. However, we will share this experience as well, offering up some tiny morsels of advice and commentary on local eateries along the way.
We encourage all readers to share their road trip stories with us via email…perhaps we could learn something small about your region.
Robert & Rachel
It is our desire to add something different to the mundane Sunday afternoon drive or preplanned road trip, perhaps all it may be is a simple new perspective on sights and sounds already seen by most Americans. None the less it is what it is a travel journal.
Our travels, thus our posts may include stories about our visit to the local Liquor Barn in Lexington Kentucky or the small church we attended along the way as we traveled to visit with parents in Ritchie County West Virginia. It’s just that simple.
Trips have been numerous to date so I do have little catching up to accomplish. Seldom do we get to travel throughout the week aside from a late night dinner as we rendezvous in Flatwoods West Virginia the half way point between Morgantown and Charleston West Virginia, our respective homes for the moment. However, we will share this experience as well, offering up some tiny morsels of advice and commentary on local eateries along the way.
We encourage all readers to share their road trip stories with us via email…perhaps we could learn something small about your region.
Robert & Rachel
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