Of course Cute was among the first to buy tickets for the spinning Ferris Wheel in Midtown , 2485 Jefferson Street to be exact. You’ve probably seen its lights for the last couple of months as you sped past on I-35. On a good day, it is actually walkable from Union Station, although maybe a little scary in traffic terms. But that may be a good idea when the crowds develop – the parking situation there is going to be interesting we think.
The Wheel is part of an entertainment mini-district and for now, just it and the 16 hole Pennway Putt mini-golf course are open. We didn’t try that. It’s winter you know. Three or four mini-ish restaurant/bars are coming but right now that’s all bare ground.
Wheel info: each gondola can hold up to six people, but you don’t have to ride with strangers. Gondolas are glass enclosed, climate controlled, and you can choose the volume of the music in there to enhance your experience. There’s also a big red panic button which you’re encouraged not to use unless there’s a real emergency.
Ferris wheels’ purpose is probably just to give you a look around – this one is the height of the Statue of Liberty (the statue itself is 151 feet tall and stands on a pedestal that is 154 feet tall, making the height of the entire sculpture 305 feet. . . but only the first feet are applicable here) and it does sit at the bottom of a hill, really. But still, the view is engaging, somewhat mesmerizing and 360 degrees and you go around five or six times (it was so thrilling, we forgot to count) for $16.50 (kids over 12) and/or $13.20 (under 12).
The wheel did lead us to a discovery. From the top, looking south, we saw a building that Cute thought was a restaurant or bar. As is frequent, he was partially right. It turned out to be Green Door Antiques, recently relocated from the West Bottoms. Owned by two happy gentlemen, Dustin Swartz and Darren Killen (they closed on the property a couple weeks before the plans for the adjoining property were announced), these two have a real eye for unusual vintage items – from lawn statuary to antique glassware and right now, Christmas items. There's much more.
But perhaps even better, for some of us at least, they’ve installed a wine bar with an excellent collection of unusual wines for sale by the glass or bottle. You can wander around, glass in hand, perusing the varied stock or just sit in the bar area in big comfy chairs. We chose the former (not saying the wine made me buy but my “new” glass spoon straws are so cool) but would have ended up in the latter had there been potato chips.
On our way back to the car, we passed a bratwurst cart, delish, so we went home happy.
All in all, a fun tiny excursion. See the slide shows above and then give it a whirl.
If you want to read a small bit more about it and buy tickets (Ferris Wheel and Golf, not The Green Door) click here.
P.S. We'll try to send the videos to you I can't get uploaded from my phone to Dropbox. And I promise now to NEVER write a blog on how much I STILL hate technology. And it hates me. Clearly.
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