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If I'd had my act together, I could have checked out
David Grohl Alley and
Modern Methods
Brewing before last night's concert and left town a little earlier
today. The alley is open 24/7, of course, but the
brewery, which is almost directly across from the big sticks, wouldn't
open until noon. So I did a bit of a walkabout before returning and
welcoming the afternoon with a nice stout.
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I turned right at the Mahoning River which was little more than a block
away. That's not a graveyard between the river and the courthouse. It is
a row of historical markers in Monument Park. The third picture if of
Veterans Park just to the north.
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A brewery wasn't the only thing that kept me in Warren until noon. Noon is
also the time when National Packard Museum opens. I've visited twice but
the most recent was more than ten years ago so I figured I was due.
Packard built five Model As in 1899 but apparently none survive. The black
car is a 1900 Model B.
The other two cars pictured individually are included because I know for
certain they have been added since I was last here. The 1948 Seven
Passenger Sedan appeared in the inaugural parades of Reagan, the first
Bush, and Clinton. The 1955 Caribbean Convertible was bought by Howard
Hughes for his fiancé, Jean Peters, although she reportedly did not drive
it much.
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This isn't a Packard but gets a spot here because, like the early
Packards, it was built in Warren. The Sterling-Knight Motor Company
operated in Warren from 1923 through 1926. This five-passenger sedan is
a 1925 model.
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These aren't Packards either. Each year, the museum hosts a motorcycle
display. This year's show, the twenty-third, runs through May 20. I'm
including the 1939 Indian Sport Scout because it's cool and the 1912 New
Era 2-Speed because it's weird. The 1968 Triumph Bonneville is here
because I lusted after Bonnevilles in high school. The 1951 Vincent Black
Shadow is here because of Richard Thompson. One of Thompson's best known
songs is "1952 Vincent Black Lightning". The musician is appearing in
Cincinnati next month so he, and by extension Black Vincents, have been on
my mind. The Black Lightning was a factory modification of the Black
Shadow produced from 1948 through 1952. It excelled in racing and setting
land speed records. This bike immediately drew my attention despite being
not quite as fast and not quite as new as the one in the song. I've been
waffling on whether or not to attend Thompson's show. Maybe this is my
sign.
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And just like that, I reached the Center of the World.
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This is the first of two quite touristy places I've been hearing chatter
about and which I decided to check out on the way home. At
Grandpa's
Cheesebarn, there is a building filled with cheese and another filled
with candy and both were filled with customers on Easter Eve. I was
seriously disappointed to not find Grandpa working a big kettle like those
at the museum in Sugarcreek. Bummer.
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I missed a turn at Buckeye Express Diner and ended up looking down on the
restaurant from the hill behind it. I quickly corrected my mistake and
pulled up next to The World's Largest Bobblehead. I spotted the
bobblehead's brother,
Giant-Handed Jacque last August and researching that
roadside giant led me to this one. I've linked the names to
RoadsideAmerica articles that tell their stories quite well. Scaffolding
was in place for the task but the big hands had not been attached when I
saw my first Jacque. They were firmly in place for a dedication ceremony
on September 15, 2022, about two weeks after this
picture was taken.
Jacque the Bobblehead isn't the only fun thing about the diner. True to
the diner's name, the decor is heavily Ohio State Buckeye flavored. Orders
are placed at a counter just inside the door then brought to your table
by a server. In good weather, that table could be somewhere outside. A
variety of 'burgers and other diner fare fills the menu. I got a
"Large Lake Erie Perch" sandwich.
The word "large" isn't there to distinguish it from a smaller
perch sandwich -- there is none -- but to make you aware of what you're
getting. I broke one piece in half, filled the bun and spread on tartar
sauce for a sandwich. I then ate the other two pieces with malt vinegar
that is thoughtfully placed on each table.
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