Hopper’s Americana, on Display in DC

by Iva Skoch on

I have a thing for Edward Hopper.

Aside from being one of the most talented painters ever (I think), he has an amazing ability to chronicle life. He is like a photo-journalist of painters…great composition, images frozen in time, yet capturing the essence of a moment perfectly.

His images feature ordinary American life, like in this picture “Chop Suey” from 1929: two fashionably dressed women waiting for a check at a restaurant. You see parts of other people’s lives too, like the couple sitting behind them, but you don’t ever really feel like you understand what goes on with either of them. It reminds me of life in New York City: you always feel like you are missing on something else by being right here.

Needless to say, I was pleased to find out there is an Edward Hopper exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in DC, where I happen to be this weekend. (I hope nobody has tried to retrace my steps in the last 30 days because I have really been to all those places: London, Crete, New York, San Francisco, Adirondacks, Brussels, Prague, DC…Let’s not talk about my carbon footprint. Ouch!)

Anyway, if you have a chance, see the exhibit. It ends January 21, 2008. It is possibly the most complete collection of his work. Afterwords, you will want to hang out at a diner all day.

Made in America

by Iva Skoch on

Anyone nostalgic for a slice of Americana, MSN published a list of the Most Iconic US Brands:

  1. Louisville Slugger Baseball Bats
  2. Wonder Bread
  3. Harley-Davidson
  4. Benjamin Moore Paint
  5. The Frye Co Leather Boots
  6. Gibson Guitars
  7. Crayola Crayons
  8. Stetson Hats
  9. KitchenAid Mixer
  10. Lodge Cast Iron Skillets
  11. Ford Pick Up Trucks
  12. Woolrich Blankets

It would be interesting to see how foreigners would vote on the most iconic US brand. Something tells me we would see Coca-Cola and Campbell Soup on the list, too. As a European, I say that Wonder Bread would not make that list. I am sorry but Wonder Bread is simply not bread. Bread is not supposed to be stored in a fridge and last for weeks!

My vote goes, no question, to Harley Davidson. That is the single best American product, period. But that’s coming from a biker chick who likes real, fresh bread.

Summer Fun: The All-American Soap Box Derby

by Kelly Amabile on

Independence Day is a time for paying tribute to our country and its national past-times, right? A hot dog at the ballgame is the first one that comes to mind. But what about another American classic: the soap box derby! Although not as popular as baseball, soap box derby racing is an original American past-time that has been entertaining kids across the country since 1933.

Each year, regional races are held throughout the US, leading up to the All-American Soap Box Derby final in Dayton, Ohio each July. This year the championship will be held on July 21. Racers are usually between the ages of 6 and 16.

A few weeks ago I attended some of the preliminary derby festivities in my own hometown. The two top seeded racers from the day get to travel to Ohio next month to compete in the national championships. Here are some photos:

The first derby race cars were made from orange crates, soap boxes, sheet metal and even wheels off a baby stroller. Year after year the races keep getting bigger and the engineering of the cars improves. Derby racing has now blossomed into a worldwide event with enthusiasts around the globe.

Sponsors help spruce up these sleek colorful cars, a far cry from the early days of true soap boxes on wheels. But the racers do build these cars themselves — that’s part of the rules. There are handy do-it-yourself kits that kids can use.

The key is aerodynamics. These unpowered vehicles have no engines. They perform with the help of only one source — gravity:

Heats of two line up in rows and wait for the signal:

And they’re off! Wide, tree-lined Central Ave. in Pearl River, NY is perfectly designed for these derby downhills:

Haystacks and orange cones lie waiting to protect runaway derby drivers who may roll beyond the finish line:

Today’s cars are mostly made of pinewood. There is a turning mechanism for the front wheels:

There are also specific restrictions for each division (stock, super stock, masters). Sometimes weights are used to meet these requirements:

Cool stuff, huh? There may still be regional racing events going on across the nation prior to the main event on July 21. If a town near you is participating, be sure to check it out — or head to Ohio in a few weeks to get in on the downhill action!

LOC Wise Guide: American Vacation

by Kelly Amabile on

The Library of Congress has a nifty online magazine called The Wise Guide that appears each month. It’s a creative tool that the LOC folks use to communicate interesting facts and tidbits from their massive repository of photos, videos, prints, audio recordings and films. The website is spirited and fun in design — who knew a .gov could be so engaging? (They smartly partnered with the Ad Council on this public service announcement.)

This month The Wise Guide takes readers back in time through a series of old-school example of US holiday travel. The Vacation feature points to historical photos from the Library’s Pictorial Americana collection that illustrates what traveling and vacations were like in the 19th century. There are classic pictures of summer trolley cars, grand hotels, roadside inns and automobile parades. This one is my favorite. (Be sure to read the caption.)

The June Wise Guide also features a page all about the Grand Ole’ American Flag, just in time for Independence Day.

Bob Evans Restaurants: In Memory of Bob

by Jamie Rhein on

I never met Bob Evans, but I’ve written about him–not him, exactly, but his restaurants. You can’t be the Calendar Events editor and the Restaurant Guide editor at Ohio Magazine without mentioning Bob Evans restaurants at least once a month. When those were my jobs, the magazine ran “The Best ” restaurants type article. Bob Evans received the top number of nominations for one of the catagories even though it wasn’t eligible. The contest rules stated “no chains.” Ohioans are relentless when it comes to hearty, comfort food, and the ballots for Bob poured in.

Bob Evans died yesterday at age 89 leaving quite the legacy. Ted Strickland, the governor of Ohio even made a statement about Bob’s impact on more than the Midwest gastric experience. Bob’s is a story of how loving one place, his farm in southeastern Ohio grew into a mighty business that served folks passing through. Originally, he sold meals and sausage to truckers after WW II. These days, you can barely pass a major highway exit in Ohio and in several other states without seeing a Bob Evans sign. There are 579 restaurants in all.

While I don’t frequent Bob Evans restaurants often, I can’t remember the last time I ate at one, I always associate them with the joy of breakfast on a road trip. The last one I went to was on I-70 between Wheeling, West Virginia and Columbus. I can picture the biscuits and that bottomless cup of coffee.

Besides going to a restaurant, you can also get the Bob Evans down home experience at the Bob Evans Farm where Bob lived with his family for 20 years. The family farm has been turned into a museum and craft store, plus it still functions as a farm, although none of the animals here will end up on a breakfast table. From April to December the farm is open to tourists. Click here for the activities calendar. One day, I’ll make it here. It’s been on my places to go with the kids list for years.

In the meantime I may head on over to the closest restaurant to my house (about two miles) and have a biscuit and think of Bob. One of my friends who worked at Ohio Magazine with me suggested all the writers who’ve had a Bob connection in any way should have a gathering in his honor. We’re thinking about it. He’s given us all something to write about.