Thoroughly Modern Mimi

Months before my trip to France, I began listening to a CD known as earworms : a musical brain trainer.  My goal: to become familiar with basic words and common phrases.   

I readily admit I struggle with foreign language; found French torturous in high school and college. My brain just doesn’t want to think in another tongue.  

But, I gave earworms a try.  I played the oral lessons, really more like rhythmic tunes, in my office.  I honestly didn’t study or concentrate on the CD’s.  However, I listened to volumes 1 and 2 many times. 

 Guess what? 

When I got to France, I actually comprehended some conversation. Menus could be deciphered with a reasonable amount of certainty. Of course, I confidently ordered a coffee or a bottle of wine since those were the first things I mastered. My grasp of basic phrases seemed automatic, almost magical. 

One morning a waiter spoke to me, just rattling along and when he finished, I casually replied with my room number– in French.  My daughter looked at me stunned.  How did you understand all that, she wondered? 

And..frankly, I did too.  Must have been those earworms! 

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I sincerely recommend earworms. 

Visit www.earwormslearning.com.  

July 20, 2009 will mark the 40^th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon.  Mimi’s home state of Florida has several air and space attractions which educate as well as entertain visitors.

During NASA’s early years astronauts trained at Cape Canaveral, Florida perhaps  remembered as Mission Control Center.  Later, training facilities moved to Houston, Texas, but the Cape still boasts the official launch site and the Kennedy Space Center.

The Kennedy Center deserves a full-day visit featuring the Shuttle Launch Experience.  If you dare, board the ride that simulates the sights, sounds and the sensation of launching into space.  While at the complex visit NASA’s spaceport facilities, see towering rockets and IMAX space films. Several times a day you have the opportunity to meet and talk, often a question-and-answer session, with an astronaut.

On Thursday, July 16. Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11; Charlie Duke, Apollo 16; Al Worden, Apollo 15; Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14; and Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7, will celebrate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch at Kennedy Space Visitor Complex, and mark the opening of a new exhibit at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the Apollo Treasures Gallery. The new gallery showcases treasures from the Apollo moon missions. For more information go to Apollo-40^th Anniversary.

With some pre-planning and good weather, you might be lucky enough to watch a shuttle launch; information and dates are available at www.nasa.gov.

In Titusville, six miles west of the space center, you’ll find Kennedy Space Camp (for kids and adults) and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.  This locale houses memorabilia and tells the stories of the American space pioneers. 

Visit Central Florida to taste Moon Soup at Chalet Suzanne Inn and Restaurant.  Lunar Module pilot Jim Irwin grew particularly fond of the Inn’s romaine soup and chose it for his space menu.  NASA freeze-dried the creamy green broth and carried it aboard Apollo missions. They make and sell Moon Soup at their own cannery on the property.

In nearby Polk City discover Fantasy of Flight, 30 minutes from Orlando. This interactive museum offers a chance to soar into the wild blue yonder by donning a helmet, goggles, and white scarf and slipping into an open cockpit bi-plane. A pilot takes you for a ride reminiscent of The Red Barron. Be sure to inquire about hot-air balloon rides, too.

Fantasy of Flight houses over 40 rare vintage aircraft which are often flown in weekend aerial demonstrations.  Visitors can immerse themselves into a multi-sensory sight and sound journey through WWI trenches and a WWII pre-bomb mission brief.  Veterans love this place.

Florida’s Space Coast, as the Cape Canaveral area is called, sits just 45 minutes east from Orlando.  There are miles of pristine beaches and the largest sea turtle nesting area in the country.

Other events commemorating the lunar landing anniversary are being held at: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC., the NASA Space Center Houston; the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta , Ohio; the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas. 

The JFK library offers a fabulous re-creation in real time on the Web at www.wechoosethemoon.org.  The site goes live at 8:02 a.m.on July 16^th, 90 minutes before the anniversary launch of Apollo 11.  Visitors can see animated re-creations of key events and browse video clips and hear radio transmissions between the astronauts and NASA flight controllers.

And if you want to plan a lunar dinner party please visit Mimi’s food blog for ideas.

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Both Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee boast Dolly Parton as their own.  The towns rest at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains and take pride in their country heritage.  This valley is a place where music, food and family are the heart and soul of the people.  So it’s no wonder their restaurants serve good-ole down home southern cookin.

On my trip to the Smokies I dug in like a hungry bear trying fried green tomatoes, fried gator, fried shrimp, fried okra and well…fried you name it.  Another day I put aside the knife and fork and tackled finger food- saucy barbeque ribs.  I finished with a messy smile on my face.  Breakfast favorites became blueberry pancakes, syrup and apple fritters.

Here is my list of restaurant recommendation for casual dining in Sevierville:

Flapjacks , 1018 Pkwy, Sevierville, 

(865) 774-5374

Pancake houses are very popular in this area and Flapjacks draws a crowd.  They offer a breakfast bonanza of delights from personal egg skillets to all varieties of pancakes.  Endless cups of coffee and fast friendly service.  Their cute country décor is just that –cute, not tacky or overdone.

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant , Apple Valley Road Sevierville 865-428-1222

Each diner at Applewood is greeted with an apple julep (apple juice/mint combo), an apple spice muffin and apple fritters with apple butter. Folks come from all over for these treats. The restaurant serves southern style food from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.  When you are finished eating (or waiting ‘cause there’s often a crowd), walk over to the Apple Barn Complex, the Cider Barn, gift shop, bakery or winery.  You’ll find more “apple” items here than flies in a barn and I bet you end up taking something home.

English Mountain Trout Farm, 291 Blowing Cave Rd, Sevierville (865) 429-5553

If you’re itchin for something different, venture over and catch your lunch at the English Mountain Trout Farm. Kids love this place.  Proprietor Charlie will fry it up lickety split, then serve the dish along with coleslaw and hush puppies. “You Hook Em’, We Cook Em’”

Damon’s Grill , 1640 Pkwy, Sevierville

(865) 428-6200

Damon’s specialty is ribs and they are indeed special. I do declare their ribs are as juicy as gossip; why the meat fell off the bones.  The pulled pork was the best I’ve ever tasted; made me go hog wild.  Patrons at Damon’s enjoy a lovely mountain view.

KT’s Bar & Grill, 1641 Parkway Drive, Sevierville, (865) 428-1991

KT’s dishes firecracker shrimp to die for.  Spicy but not over the edge, tangy and still moist.  The fajitas are a flavorful sizzling sensation.  Portions are way more than one person can eat.  Fortunately I saved just enough room to nibble the Bananas Foster, best dessert on the yummy menu.

The Chop House , 1649 Parkway Dr, Sevierville (865) 774-1993

The ambiance of the Chop House feels like a cut above and the food certainly is. The restaurant showcases a clean open kitchen and inviting atmosphere.  I sampled the petite filet which cut as easy as sliding off a greased log.  My piece of steak was the tenderest selection grilled to perfection.  The side dishes are plentiful- baked sweet potato, parmesan creamed spinach, fries, loaded baked potato, rice pilaf, burgundy mushrooms, sugar snap peas, baked cinnamon apples, steamed broccoli, green bean medley and asparagus.  The cobbler looked luscious but I was stuffed.

Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant , 3629 Outdoor Sportsman’s Pl, Sevierville,(865) 932-5500

Enter this restaurant through the Bass Pro Shop and face a stunning 13,000 gallon salt water reef aquarium, a whole wall behind the bar.  As you might guess, they’re hooked into seafood.  I shared appetizers of calamari and gator tail. Both were lightly fried with a crunchy batter.  My friend ordered the sushi-grade black and blue tuna that looked gorgeous.  My entree, Cajun pineapple salmon made a pretty plate, a zappy blend of sweet and spice. Another diner’s fish & chips came piled a mile high.  Warning: the desserts are decadent but delicious.  Outdoor patio dining available.

No, you won’t go hungry in Sevierville, Tennessee.  

Mimi has returned from Europe concluding her roundabout travels of local, national and international destinations.  She explored Georgia, Tennessee, France and Germany by boat, train, airplane, auto, taxi, van, bus, bicycle, ATV, helicopter, zipline, raft and on foot. 

She hiked a trail in the Smoky Mountains, descended into Forbidden Caverns and strolled the Champs Elysées.  She was drenched by the swirling StormChaser and snoozed on a bed at 35,000 feet.  She discovered the wonders of the medieval Papal Palace in Avignon and Sainte Chapelle in Paris built by French King Louis IX to display Christ’s crown of thorns.

She savored apple fritters in a restaurant encircled by orchards, French croissants still warm from the oven and barbequed ribs that were finger licking good.  She lingered at sidewalk cafés tasting escargot and pâté and sipped robust Chateauneuf du Pape wine.  She drank beer in Munich’s famous Hofbrahaus where she met a complete stranger from her hometown.

She photographed lavender fields by day and cathedrals at night; farmer’s markets; mountain streams and her two month old grandson’s feet. 

It was a month on the move and Mimi is tired.  She’s glad to be home to watch fireworks and celebrate the Fourth of July.  In upcoming blog posts she will share her recommendations on hotels, restaurants, activities, places of interest and compelling reasons to visit.

Photo of Mimi (AKA  Debi) in the field of lavender by Susan Bowen.