JUNK BOAT TRAVELS: underground railway

We headed into Des Moines, quiet on a Saturday morning. At first we planned on having breakfast but then decided we'd rather eat on the road so it would serve as brunch.

I We wanted to see the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

A self-made entrepreneur, visionary philanthropist, and generous champion of Iowa students, John Pappajohn used his success in the business world to make the greater world a better place.

John Pappajohn immigrated from Greece at the age of nine months. He grew up in Mason City, Iowa. His father died when he was 16 years old…and it changed his world. He worked his way through college and alternated working and attending school with his brothers. It took him six years to get his degree. He attended Mason City Junior College (now North Iowa Area Community College) and then graduated with a BSC degree in business from the University of Iowa in 1952.

Pappajohn was one of the nation’s earliest and most successful venture capitalists—elite investors who provide capital to emerging companies. His shrewd business instincts and knack for striking a deal were legendary, as was his work ethic. Even in his 90s, Pappajohn could be found in his Des Moines office seven days a week, driven by the same entrepreneurial spirit that helped him launch more than 100 companies over the course of his 50-plus-year investing career.

But Pappajohn always set his sights on something greater than just the bottom line. A close friend once said Pappajohn only made money so he could give it away. Indeed, he and late wife Mary donated to philanthropic causes around the world, with a particular fondness for higher education and the arts.

P.S. we've been to Mason City IA!

We've seen many Plensas! Click here.

We've seen Al Weiwei in Toronto.

We had just seen a Keith Haring exhibit at the AGO in Toronto a few days before we left.

Done by Robert Indiana, the same artist who did the iconic Philadelphia sign which we saw in 2009.

T 8 by Di Suvero. We saw his piece The Calling in Milwaukee in 2016.

Toronto has his No Shoes and also has Flower Power.

Brunch, lousy service! Dixon IL

Pit stop.

Fugitive slaves usually passed through Iowa on their way to other free states farther north or to Canada where Britain would protect them from being recaptured. The majority of Underground Railroad activity in Iowa took place in Fremont and Mills counties, where fugitive slaves traveled from western Missouri.

Click here for some Canadian underground railroad spots.

World's Largest Truck Stop, we should have stopped!

Iowa 80 features a 67,000 sq ft (6,200 m2) main building, parking for 900 trucks, 15 diesel fuel pumps, and also has a dedicated pump for dispensing bulk diesel exhaust fluid. Four-hundred and fifty employees staff the megaplex. The facility features separate entrances for truckers and regular commuters.

Electronic tolls in Illinois - not sure how much it cost at the moment. Our first time seeing these although they are common in Europe.

Our stop for the night - Hilton Garden Inn.

Monday, April 19, 2021

Tuesday Treasures

Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

Travel Tuesday

Our World Tuesday

Image-in-ing
My Corner of the World

Postcards

Timeless Thursdays is hosted by Stevenson Que

Toronto ON

Click here for a history of Toronto lane naming and a list of other lanes. That post is a work in progress, and gets updated frequently.

Oddly I cannot find any information about this lane name in Yorkville.

Macy DuBois

Gazell Macy DuBois M. Arch, P. Eng, PP-FRAIC, PP-RCA, FAIA (hon) (20 December 1929 – 9 November 2007) was an American-born Canadian architect who designed several landmark Toronto buildings.
Uncertain about a career in engineering, DuBois attended an American Institute of Architects (AIA) conference in Boston, and was inspired to attend the Harvard Graduate School of Design, graduating in 1958. In his final year, he entered the Toronto City Hall design competition with three other student collaborators. Selected as one of 8 semi-finalists from a field of 510 entrants, he moved to Toronto to work on the second round and, although his design was not ultimately selected, soon relocated permanently.

His first major project, begun in 1959, was the combined residence and teaching facility of New College, University of Toronto, with a curved interior courtyard inside a rectilinear facade. It was well received, winning a local architectural design award after completion of phase II, and is considered one of the finest buildings on the campus.

Deborah Brown Lane
In recognition of one of the first residents of Seaton Village, "...at 691 Markham Street where 'Mammy' Brown lived. This cottage is the oldest house in Seaton village, and Mrs. Brooks says: 'Mother lived in it over 50 years. She was 111 when she died, and she's dead 11 years. Mother came from Maryland. She and my father were slaves, and ran away because father was going to be sold."

During the mid-19th century, Seaton Village was home to the largest number of African-Canadian and African-American families in York County. Deborah and Perry Brown lived on what is now Markham Street and the Rev. William Mitchell, his wife Elizabeth, and their five children lived nearby.

A land grant dated July 9th,1886, as granted by the then Provincial Lieutenant Governor, John Beverly Robinson, includes the following information; Perry Brown died intestate about 15 years prior (c.1871) leaving his widow Deborah Brown and seized of Lot 133 on the east side of Markham Street, valued at $400. They were formerly slaves in the State of Maryland, came to Canada about 30 years ago (c.1856), settled on the lot and Perry had purchased and obtained a deed for the property in 1870. As Deborah Brown was old and feeble and unable to work or provide for herself, and was in poor circumstances she was granted possession of the property. This gives some credence to the belief that their home was among the first within Seaton village, later numbered 691 Markham Street. Her Death Record and Obituaries titled "Toronto's Oldest Resident", show that she died at the age of 111 on April 24th 1898, but at her death she was residing at "the rear of 108 Chestnut" street, the home of her daughter Mrs. Sarah Brooks. She had lived in her home on Markham up to one month before. The funeral was held at the Seaton Village Methodist Church the next day.

UPDATE: Tom made a good point in his comments below. I am linking up a post I did about the Underground Railway in St. Catharine's, a town just west of Toronto. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railway.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Self-Isolation Week 15

June 2020 - Toronto ON

Week 15 or Day 100!!!!! But to be fair, we are getting out and about. We avoid crowds, wear masks, sanitize.

World's Apart a very interesting commercial.

Covid 19 Update

Toronto (pop 6.2 million GTA) hits 1,000 COVID-19 deaths, but data shows an improving situation.
Montreal (pop 4.2 million GMA) has recorded the most COVID-19 deaths of any Canadian city by far, with its latest count showing 3,238 deaths.

More regions of Ontario are moving into the second stage of the province's reopening plan today, including parts of the Greater Toronto Area.

York, Durham and Niagara are among the areas allowed to further open their economies, though Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex will remain in the first stage until at least next Friday.

Most areas were allowed to enter the second stage last Friday, except for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, some regions that border the United States and those with COVID-19 outbreaks among migrant workers.
Click here if you want to be ~~bored~~ dazzled by charts.

Today's headline:
There are 54 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, which has seen 14 days of consecutive decline in the number.

Toronto will start issuing marriage licences again, by appointment, as of June 22.
A mask will be required when using public transit beginning July 2.

Distancing examples from the other side of the pond

As usual we spent the weekend at home.

Monday John golfed and I took the subway to Lansdowne and poked around Bloordale Village. Since we're not going too far from home for now I've started a series called Sidewalking to chronicle Toronto neighbourhoods I ramble around.

Click here for lots of photos of Bloordale!

Brock Sandwich carries gluten free buns!

Can't wait until the ice cream places open!

First time here, bought chorizo and hot sausage, all gluten free and finally found some horseradish!

Lots of signs of solidarity.

Home with my sausages.

I also bought some stuff in a Mexican grocer I found, I forgot to get a picture.

Tuesday and we did another day trip back to the Niagara region. Our folding lawn chairs arrived this morning! We had gotten rid of all ours when we downsized duh. Since we will be doing day trips around town we figured it would be nice to have our own to sit on when we either take our lunch or get take out.

This time our focus was around St. Catharines where we started with a take out lunch of fish and chips.

Traffic backed up on the way due to to a trucker running off the road. This is a very busy highway between the city and the American border. The border remains open only for essential business, the deadline has been delayed for the third time until the end of July. This will hurt tourism on both sides, however, I am quite happy not having Americans coming up here to spread the virus. Especially from those places that are taking this whole pandemic so cavalierly.

Union Jack.

I enjoyed the haddock and John had the gluten free halibut. He thought the batter was a little thick but would try it again, having haddock instead. Coleslaw was delicious.

We then found some interesting historical sights in St. Catharines. Click here to read about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, a First Nations Memorial, historic house DeCew and visit the Morningstar mill.

This week's day trip required two posts as we continued our outing with more wineries in the Niagara region.

We only covered three wineries this week, Henry of Pelham, Herdner and 13th St. all in the St. Catharines area. Click here for the winery details.

The "new" normal. One way traffic, masks requested and hand sanitizing.

Local from Herdner 1.5 liters for $15
13th St. Burger wine because who could pass up that name and on our visit last week we got pizza wine at London Born.
13th St. 2018 Gamay
Sibling Rivalry from Pelham
Pelham 2009 Rose Three of Hearts I picked based on the name!

I also picked this up at Pelham.

Wednesday John golfed and I headed to Queen St. West for no particular reason.

Dollarama is geared up for Canada Day, July 1.

Last week it said "See You Soon" today getting optimistic with "Soon".

The Common People are happy to see us.

Where we bought our first masks.

Thursday we decided not to go too far afield. We thought we see the rhodos at Bruckener Gardens, they hadn't been open a few weeks ago due to Covid 19 restrictions. The rhodos were past but the peonies were open.

In case you're wondering, my (Frida) mask is on my wrist.

Almost put my hand on him!

Toronto in the distance.

COOKING

Saturday Lazy cabbage rolls

Made 1ish ingredient raspberry ice cream. I had picked up 2 for $4 raspberries on Queen St. W on Friday.

Sunday I've decided to cook Sunday breakfast as John does breakfast every day so he should have a break.
Week 1 - blueberry pancakes
Week 2 - grilled prosciutto and cheese sandwiches

Roast chicken mashed cauliflower and carrots

Made stock from frozen vegetables and drippings from chicken.

Chicken bones were used for another pot of stock.

Monday - Pork belly and salad. I didn't marinate it this time and it was a little tougher than normal.

Tuesday - Leftover cabbage rolls

Wednesday - Curry chicken and I opened a tin of coconut milk for the rice. 1 part rice, 1 part coconut milk, 1 part water. I froze the rest of the milk on an ice cube tray.

Thursday - Moroccan lamb meatballs, salad with Moroccan dressing, this was an interesting dressing but it definitely needed more acid.
I also tried gfJules recipe for pita. I opted to bake them in the oven but they didn't really brown or rise very well. But the texture and taste was good. Next time I'll do in a cast iron pan.

Friday

READING

12 queer books to read this summer.

The Times had an article in which several renowned writers recount some of their most memorable meals out. These stories are fabulous!

I read another Tessa Hadley The London Train and love the slow development of the characters that you don't care for but still care about their stories.
Her writing is beautiful.

THROWBACK TRAVEL - THE FOOD EDITION

Since travelling is off the table at the moment I am revisiting our travels for The Food Edition.

Going with our wine theme, lunch in the Barossa Valley Australia.

Pages

Sunday, April 7, 2024

2024 Road Trip - Day 27 Des Moines IA to Naperville IL