Out and About – Page 12

An Afternoon in Inverness

October 20, 2015October 20, 2015 by KTgreen

We were back in Inverness–“small town down right”– last week. Seems we’ve been there a lot recently. This time we had a special mission and thought we’d also use the trip for an excuse to try a new lunch place. We intended to eat at the pub right next to the Valerie Theatre but it didn’t open until 3 and we couldn’t wait that long!

Nope, we were really hungry.

So we went to Deco Cafe. We’ve been there one other time and enjoyed the experience. My only complaint was the disposable tableware and that’s what they are still using! (Guess they didn’t read my review!) The last visit was on a Saturday and there were only a few other patrons. This was Friday. At noon. Big mistake. The outdoor patio was full and there were only a few open tables on the inside and we grabbed one. We both ordered paninis which seemed a pretty easy order–Terry’s was even the daily special. From our table we could see people scurrying about preparing the lunches but it looked like there was only one panini maker. Like I said, the place was packed and everybody must have ordered paninis. It took close to an hour for our lunch. Our server asked if we would like our side dish before the meal and since we were really hungry, we agreed. Which made our plates look really empty when our paninis finally did arrive.

The pesto salad is very good and includes edamame.

Terry had the ham and cheese panini

Mine was the Tuscan Panini

We had plenty of time to look around at the decor and it very cool. The blown-in insulation between the exposed beams has been painted brown–very clever. The floors are painted concrete, We hadn’t noticed this cool chair rail on our last visit.

Now I need a wine room to put this chair rail in!

Our lunch was really good. I liked that there was a wide selection of breads and different cheeses to choose from for the panini. I also liked the flavored ice tea.

It just took way too long. We’ll probably go back but not during lunch hour!

Deco Cafe is right across from the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum and right around the corner from the Valerie Theatre with the lovely park with the fountain.

The weather was beautiful and it was a lovely afternoon in Inverness.

National Wildlife Refuge Day at Three Sisters Springs

October 19, 2015 by KTgreen

Terry and I attended the annual National Wildlife Refuge Day at Three Sisters Springs. There were numerous informational booths and the bluegrass band, Shade Tree Pickers provided entertainment. The real star of the day was the new wetlands that was recently completed by SouthWest Florida Water Management District. The area will clean water run off from the businesses on US 19 from Three Sisters Springs Blvd all the way to Fort Island Trail.

Water that has been cleansed in the wetlands goes through this spillway into the canal. The bars keep the manatees out of the area because the wetlands are tidal and the manatees could get stranded in very little water.

The entrance to Three Sisters Springs. Kayakers, swimmers, and manatees all share this inlet.

The former Lake Lynda, it’s now Lake Crystal.

An Evening in Inverness

October 13, 2015 by KTgreen

I haven’t done a restaurant review in a way long time.

I need to make up for it.

So today I’m writing about a whole town on a Friday night

okay, maybe not the whole town,

just parts of it.

Inverness

Which I’ve been to many times. It’s that town that got cut in half by that big highway.

But SO MUCH MORE!

Let’s talk about romantic evenings.

Somewhere, somehow, someone mentioned that McCleod House Bistro was the best restaurant in Citrus County. When we found out that our local favorite place in Crystal River for special dinners was closed for remodeling we were like, well, okay, we might as well try a new place….

Made reservations and they asked if we were celebrating anything special, oh yeah, it was our anniversary and Terry’s birthday.

And this was our menu:

In case you can’t see it…..

Okay, we’ve dined all over the country at many different places for our anniversary, and this was a first. Maybe that’s what restaurants are doing now! Since we only have an anniversary and birthday together once a year, how would we know????

And here I am having some Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay. We ONLY order this on our anniversary. Ka-ching.

And our dinner…

We both ordered the specials, Terry’s is the red meat variety.

Service was extraordinary and the food was excellent.

We opted for no dessert but they brought us key lime pie with a lit candle for Terry’s b’day.

OH geeeeez, now we have a new favorite local anniversary restaurant. What are we going to do when our other favorite local anniversary restaurant reopens????

As we left the restaurant, Inverness city manager Frank DiGiovanni was dining on the porch and gave us a wave. Yes, he has no idea who we are, we either looked really important in our special going out to eat at a special place clothes or he just waves at anyone and everyone. So everything we read in the paper that makes us think he is a cold hearted politician is all WRONG!!!!! He’s our new BFF. I know if we had just gone over to his table we could have shared a nice glass of Cabernet.

But anyhow let’s move on, we could hear a classic rock band playing around the corner which sounded like fun, but we had a destination. We were headed to Fox Den Winery for one last sip of wine. (Okay, I use “we” loosely, I was drinking most of the wine!)

Not only was there a band playing, but there were a whole lot of people hanging out on the streets of Inverness. And they didn’t look homeless. There were no special events scheduled so I was surprised that Inverness was so busy on a Friday evening.

Fox Den Winery had several tables filled but there was room at the bar for us. The owners remembered us and we had only been there one other time. (Is that a good thing or a bad thing?)

I told the owner that we just had an anniversary dinner and a lovely bottle of Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay. And she said, oh you had dinner at McLeod’s House Bistro!

We enjoyed listening to the acoustic duo that was performing.

Next we headed over to the Valerie Theatre so we could see it lit up at night.

I took lots of pictures, but I either had the wrong lens filter on or was using the wrong setting. Or had too much wine. (Good thing that I wasn’t driving!) The snaps didn’t turn out all that well.

Gosh, I love sparkle lights and shiny fountains. It was a great evening, the weather was perfect, Think we will be returning to Inverness for another romantic evening. Soon.