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Because of rising gas prices and falling tourist-generated revenue, state-wide convention and visitor bureaus are encouraging locals to take “staycations”.  And since we live in paradise already, why would we want to wander?  I admit, I’m being facetious.  I enjoy globe trotting as much as the next fellow.

But, if you’d like a quick treat, I’d suggest a nearby one-of-a-kind family entertainment venue AND admission is FREE.  Nowhere else in the world can you sit in your own personal automobile and have it roll up hill, all by itself, except at Spook Hill near Lake Wales.  Just follow the directions below and PLEASE let me know your reactions.

Sound like a college fight song? Oh yeah! But it's also the name of John Ringling's railroad car prior to the JOMAR. And the mighty "W" is now in the Circus Museum on the grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. But no stampedes, please. It'll be available for viewing after some neatening up.

Both the Wisconsin and the JOMAR were products of the original Pullman Palace Car Company founded in 1867 by George Mortimer Pullman. The unique place he made for himself among nineteenth century industrial leaders is attested by the fact that his name appears in the dictionaries of twenty languages as a noun connoting the utmost in safety, comfort and luxury in land transportation vehicles.

Mr. Pullman died in October 1897 but the company continued its very active growth management policy by purchasing its competitors. In 1899 the company took over its last opposition, the Wagner Sleeping Car Company.

Aren't you as glad as I am about that? Who would want to sleep in a Wagner?

Years ago, back in the late 50s there was a restaurant at the northeast corner of Tuttle Ave and Ringling Blvd. called Casa Canestrelli with La Tosca Trailer Park right behind it. I understand the trailer park was named for one of the Canestrelli's daughters. I only remember going there once or twice since our children were very young then and we didn't venture out with them very often but it was so unique because during dinner they had circus performers doing aerial acts. There was nothing else in Sarasota quite like that.

Later, the same location became House of Chong and by then our children were a little older and could behave during a dinner out. Our son, Ken, really liked going out as long as he could have a hamburger. Shades of Wimpy. As much as I tried he would only order a hamburger. One night I ordered egg drop soup and asked him to just taste it and lo and behold he discovered a world apart from hamburgers and I lost my soup. It seemed to me that he went from that right to escargot and I informed him that he'd either have to go back to hamburgers or get a job. It's interesting to note that he is now a vegetarian.

Another one of my favorite buildings in Sarasota is the Woman's Club on the corner of Cocoanut and Palm Aves. It was built in 1915 and served as the Woman's Club throughout most of the 20th Century. It now belongs to the Florida Studio Theater. A couple of reasons come to mind as to my attraction to this building; first, in among all the Mediterranean Revival architecture styles around town, here was a little building that was more English Tudor in design. What was that about? It certainly stood out and was unique among all the red tiled roofs and quatro foil designs with its half timbered exterior walls and diagonal mullioned windows (or perhaps leaded glass). Of course, it was not strictly English Tudor but certainly enough so to distinguish it from all the Mediterranean buildings that prevailed in Sarasota. And second, but certainly not lesser in importance to us, it was where our wedding reception was held more than 53 years ago.

Even though the South has been invaded by the North, Jefferson Davis' (President of the Confederate States of America, 1862 to 1865) birthday in June was a legal holiday in the eleven Confederate States up to 1962. I remember that local banks, city, county and state offices were closed. And we still have our Jefferson/Davis street sign.