Mill Creek Cafe Pie

Th Historic Lincoln Hotel B&B is pleased to annouce the Mill Creek Cafe now offers another delightful dining option in Cedar County.  Their chalk board menu offers delicious home made meals that change daily.  Not interested in a meal?  Stop in for home made pie and sundaes.  Patrons enjoy a warm ambiance and friendly service.  Check out this week’s menu at Mill Creek Cafe. And if you need a weekend break, take a night for yourselves at the Lincoln Hotel where gourmet breakfast and pillowtops await.

Northeast Iowa is dominated by The Mississippi River and its tributaries, carving spectacular bluffs and picturesque river valleys that feature hardwood forests of hickory, elm, and oak. The landscape is filled with “postcard quality” landscapes of unique farms and quiet rural communities. Despite a century and a half of development, these river corridors still provide many natural areas where deer, wild turkeys, Hawks, and bald eagles may be spotted.

This terrain includes some of Northeast Iowa’s most scenic parks and recreation areas and some of the most interesting lodging establishment as well. They include:

Bellevue: Potter’s Mill

Decorah: Dug Road Inn

Elkader: Barn on the Bluff and  Cedar Street Suites

Fredericksburg: FarmHouse B&B & Winery

Garnavillo: The Red Brick Inn Bed & Breakfast

Iowa Falls: Bed & Breakfast of Cabin Cove and  River’s Bend B&B

Lansing: Our Tara Inn

Lowden: Lincoln Hotel

Marquette: Eagles Landing B&B and Winery

Maquoketa: Squiers Manor B&B

McGregor: Hickory Ridge B&B & Bridle and The Stauer House Bed and Breakfast

Osage: The Barrett House

For more information on Northeast Iowa, visit  http://www.neiowabedandbreakfastinns.com/

Cedar St. Suites offers an inspiring setting for those seeking a personal creative retreat or quiet respite -with a special price for week-long stays.

Whether it is a retreat for writing, painting, soul searching, or just a change of pace, Cedar St. Suites offers the full amenities of a furnished apartment including wireless internet and satellite television.

Enjoy your stay in a suite surrounded by the small town pace and a handful of fun shops, specialty coffees and teas, and a fresh brew in a neighboring pub.  Next door, the Elkader Opera House also provides local and national talent throughout the year.  Check us out at www.elkadersuites.com.  Call Rebecca at 563-880-1233 to inquire about accommodations for your creative retreat/respite and to make reservations.

Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Iowa River in the Scenic City Empress on October 16th. Music by Max Hay. This is the last dinner cruise of the season.

To fully enjoy the cruise experience, plan to spend the week-end lodging on the river at the Bed & Breakfast of Cabin Cove.  You’ll be in your own private hide away in a two bedroom cabin along the Iowa River.  It is a nature lover’s paradise, and is handicap accessible.  It has a full kitchen, a cozy fireplace and fun log beds in each bedroom!  Visit Cabin Cove online at: www.bbcabincove.com

Stay Warm & Cozy at Cabin Cove B&B

Spencer, Iowa ~ The Clay County Fair has come a long way since it grew out of a series of homestead era fairs, agricultural society expositions, a state high-wheel-bicycle meet, a trotting association and community barbecues and picnics — held in Spencer in 1871, only five years after pioneer settlers drove their covered wagons from Wisconsin to Spencer Grove. For entertainment this first fair ran races with horses and riders from Sioux Rapids, Peterson and Emmetsburg. Today, the Clay County fair is the largest county fair in the state of Iowa. It has the second largest agricultural exposition in North America. Bringing in over 310,000 visitors a year, the Clay County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the USA.

If you plan to visit the fair this year, you will want to consider lodging at one of these fine northwest Iowa bed and breakfast establishments — and, be sure to visit their booth in the Ag Building’s basement during the run of the fair:

Come join other talented quilters for a weekend for sharing and learning and having fun. Make a reservation to stay at Cabin Cove where you will enjoy the wonderful scenery on the Iowa River.

Iowa Bluebells

May 2009 Menu

Down Memory Lane Cuisine $20.95

Potatoe Cheese Soup

Potato Cheese Soup

Salad Greens

Roll
* Grandma Hansen’s Chicken Pie with Ham and a Baking Powder Biscuit Crust

* Rainbow Tortellini with Italian Meatballs in a Parmesan, Rosemary Cream Sauce

* Roast Beef with Chardonnay Cream Sauce with Gorgonzola Cheese and Potato of the Day

* Chicken in a Rosy Pan with a Tomato Basil Cream Sauce on Bow Tie Pasta

* Salmon Fillet with Cucumber Dill Sauce and Wild Rice Pilaf

* Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Roll with Potato of the Day

* Vegetable Enchiladas with Flour Tortillas, Tomatoes and Lettuce

* Fondue Feast ($29.95 / $35.95 on nights with entertainment)

A Variety of Optional Desserts will be offered for $4.00 each!

Plan on attending an Okoboji Summer Theatre performance this summer!

The Okoboji Summer Theatre has announced it’s 52nd season of nine amazing shows.

This year’s line up includes three wonderful musicals, several wacky comedies and also a few thought-filled pieces.  It is in the darkest and most uncertain times that we need theatre the most.  That is exactly what summer theatre is about, taking you in a world that can entertain, stimulate and provide a momentary escape.

The Okoboji Summer Theatre is located on Highway 71 between the resort communities of Okoboji and Spirit Lake in the Iowa Great Lakes region.  It is owned and operated by Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, for the purpose of providing commercial summer stock experience for their theatre students.  Stephens College has one of the leading undergraduate theatre programs in the country, and has been a member of the Iowa Great Lakes community for more than 50 years.

So for nine weeks during the Summer of 2009, come and escape with the professional company along with the talented ensemble of Stephens College students.

2009 Performance Schedule

A … My Name is Alice (Musical)
Conceived by Joan Micklin and Julianne Boyd
June 16-21

Almost, Maine (Contemporary Comedy) 
By John Cariani
June 23-28

Brighton Beach Memoirs (Family)
By Neil Simon
June 30-July 5

Nickel and Dimed (Adult Contemporary)
By Barbara Ehrenreich
July 7-12

Forever Plaid (Musical)  
Written by Stuart Ross
July 14-19

Hay Fever (Comedy)
By Noel Coward
July 21-26

George Washington Slept Here (Family Comedy)
July 28-Aug. 2
By Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman

Proof (Adult Contemporary)
By David Auburn
Aug. 4-9

INTO THE WOODS (Musical)
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Aug. 11-16

For ticket reservations please contact Okoboji Summer Theatre  Box 341, Spirit Lake, IA 51360.  The Box Office opens June 9, and reservations are accepted by telephone (712) 332-7773.

While in the Lakes area for the Okoboji Summer Theatre, book your accommodations at the Okoboji Country Inn.  It would be the ideal lodging choice for an overnight theatre adventure.  Visit them online for more information:  http://www.okobojicountryinn.com/rooms.html

“It’s not easy being green” but the Lincoln Hotel in Lowden, Iowa has been working hard to do its part to minimize its footprint on the environment.Under the suggestion of a guest two years ago, Liz Norton, innkeeper at the Lincoln, began with an energy audit.  She got to work and today a new “energy star” boiler and three new “energy star” air conditioners keep guests comfortable.   Flourescent bulbs throughout light the rooms and hallways.  The basement foundation has glass bricks instead of leaky windows.  “We aren’t done yet.”  says Liz, “but our overall energy usage has been cut by 1/3 in spite 33 % gowth last year!”  Liz says they have also replaced the aereators on the sinks to save water, and lauder linens less frequently unless the guests request differently.  She says there are more plans for a greener 2009 in the works.  “Overall our guests appreciate our efforts to be an environmentally friendly inn and it feels good to be considerate of our land.  After all ‘Iowa’ means ‘beautiful land.’  We had better keeep it that way!”

Plan now to enjoy the amenities of Northeast Iowa! Cedar St. Suites offers weekend stays and special prices for week long vacations.

The Keystone Chorus’ Spring Dinner Show is April 18th. Main Street’s Rhythm on the River begins in June. Come enjoy over 660 sq. feet of private suite with peaceful amenities. Visit them online at http://www.elkadersuites.com and call Rebecca at 563-880-1233.

The Treasures are your to enjoy in Northeast Iowa!

Suite 3 Living Room