Here & There—Entertaining Getaways

By Tom Wuckovich

Romancing the Scone

Remember the jingle that went "Nothin' says lovin' like somethin' from the oven"? Here's your chance to bolster that theory. Luvin' Oven Catering in St. Augustine, FL, is offering the cook and the romantic in you an opportunity to have one of your most cherished recipes turn into a romantic getaway for two to an intimate inn in the nation's oldest city.

Simply create a recipe for your favorite romantic dinner for two and submit it by the Aug. 31 deadline to win a romantic escape to the Victorian Inn on the Bay in St. Augustine. According to Sherry Stoppelbein, owner of the Luvin' Oven and Hot Shot Bakery, people don't often plan a romantic dinner unless there is "something magical" happening in their relationship. But that special moment does spark creativity, often accompanied by candlelight, flowers and a unique dish. Have you got one? Here are the rules:

• Submit your romantic recipe for two (no more than one typewritten page) with a 4-6 sentence description of its origin to: Luvin' Oven, 1962 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine, FL 32086.
• Entries must be submitted by Aug. 31, 2006.
• Upon submission, all recipes will become the property of Luvin' Oven, which reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish and use any portion for promotion or publicity. Finalists in the recipe contest will be notified by telephone by Oct. 1, 2006
• Include name, address, telephone number and name of dish.

Grand Prize Winner Receives:

• Two-night stay at The Bayfront Westcott House
• Romantic Picnic for Two, prepared by Hot Shot Bakery
• Champagne and Chocolates
• Romantic Two-Tier Cake designed by Luvin' Oven
• First Runner-Up: Gift Pack of Datil B Good Sauces and Datil Chocolate Biscotti
• Second Runner-Up: Gift Basket of Datil B Good Sauces

Bear-able

This fall, one of the most famous families in America is moving! No—not the Bushes. The Giant Pandas of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, including the adorable cub Tai Shan, are getting a new home—a state-of-the-art habitat that will be the gateway to the all-new Asia Trail.

The three famous Giant Pandas and six other endangered species will be moving into habitats custom-built to foster their needs and promote conservation. The Asia Trail exhibit is the result of a unique public/private partnership between the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Friends of the National Zoo, Fujifilm and Congress, representing a tremendous commitment to conservation education.

Asia Trail is not just about conservation science, however, but also a cultural and geographical experience that's educational and fun! East meets West along Asia Trail, where families will experience a slice of the Far East in our nation's capital.

For more information, call (202) 633-4800 or visit nationalzoo.si.edu.

Heinz Site

First there was the "100 Years War," then "The War of the Roses." Now comes "The Tomato Wars," but this one is for a good cause and all for fun. In Grainger County, TN, gentlemen farmers throw down ripe, rotten 'maters in their version of warfare. It takes place during the Grainger County Tomato Festival (July 28-30), which is a nonprofit celebration of "all things tomato."

The Tomato Wars is a highlight and one of the most anticipated events of the festival staged in Rutledge. The wars begin around 11 a.m. in a field behind the Rutledge High School Vo-Tech building. Individual participants are charged $5 (with teams at $25) for the privilege of donning white shirts and safety goggles before lobbing well-ripened tomatoes at the opposing age group of teams. Team members are considered "dead" when a direct hit is scored on their white shirts, marking them with red goo.

The tomatoes are professionally aged in a hot garage to make sure they are really ripe and close to rotten. The tomatoes have to be that ripe to be safe throwing a green tomato is like throwing a baseball. War proceeds go to the Grainger County Special Olympics. Some players actually have been known to throw a tomato about 106 feet. Event organizers had to move the car show away from the site for obvious reasons.

Multiple events occur during the festival, including a 5K run, fine art and cultural heritage exhibition, quilt show, musical entertainment, Civil War encampment, beauty pageant, and children's activities. Tomato Trolley wagons shuttle festival-goers to and from their vehicles.

For more information on the tomato festival, call (865) 828-3433 or visit graingercountytomatofestival.com.

The Naked And the Dread

The Knoxville Zoo has joined a handful of zoos across the country housing some strange creatures when it recently opened the "Naturally Naked Mole-Rats" exhibit.

Natives of Africa, naked mole-rats are the only eusocial mammals, meaning they live in a colony ruled by a queen, the only female who reproduces.

In the wild, they spend nearly all their time underground, but despite their name they are neither moles nor rats. Mole-rats are more closely related to chinchillas, guinea pigs and porcupines.

There are several species of mole—rats, but only naked mole-rats are, well, naked—or nearly hairless. Some other types are not eusocial and live alone or in smaller groups.

Naked mole-rats are about 3 to 4 inches long and can look—to put it politely—downright homely.

It's the nonstop movement and unusual characteristics—certainly not their beauty—that make mole-rats a hit with zoo visitors, especially kids.

For more on these characters, visit the zoo, or call (865) 637-5331.

Ab Zorb This!

Does rolling down a hill encased in a plastic ball sound like fun? If so, welcome to the adventure sport of "zorbing," an activity imported to Pigeon Forge, TN, and other spots worldwide from New Zealand, the country that brought us bungee jumping. Does that tell you anything?

According to the developers, Zorb is an "extreme sport," but that all the staff are well trained and strict safety measures are followed. Here's how you Zorb. You are harnessed inside a clear plastic ball inside another clear plastic ball about 10.5 feet in diameter. While tethered by the dry harness, you are then sent head-over-heels downhill while you watch the world spin past the windows. Inventors Andrew Akers and Dwayne van der Sluis insist that there has not been a case of "rotational disorientated stomach upset" in the Zorb. That's New Zealander for "no one's heaved."

There also is a Hydro Zorb, so you adventurous types can run, tumble, flip or slide inside as the Zorb hurtles downhill at breakneck (probably not the best word here) speed. This ride also is great to try on your own, where you can attempt to stay on your feet for a free tee shirt, or share the ride with two or three other people inside.

The Zorb site is located at 203 Sugar Hollow Rd. For more information, call (865) 428-2422 or e-mail zorb@smoky.com.

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