Shutterbugs: Brush up Nature Photography at Digital Camera Workshop!
Digital photographers, here’s your chance too sharpen your skills at a nature photography workshop coming to beautiful Lake Barkley State Resort Park on April 17th. Award-winning nature photographer Curt Hart will lead the workshop which begins Saturday at 9a.m. Hart has captured more than 100 species of birds and wildlife with his camera and will share his techniques and expertise with workshop participants during the full-day workshop.
From Lake Barkley State Resort Park:
The program includes classroom instruction, time in the field, critique and editing processes. The fee is $75 and lunch is included. Class size is limited so reserve early for this popular event. Call 1-800-325-1708 to reserve a spot or for more information. This workshop is recommend for DSL camera owners.
The workshop is a perfect excuse to plan a family/friend weekend getaway at Lake Barkley in the heart of far west Kentucky. The park is the largest resort park in Kentucky’s system and the lodge affords a spectacular view of the lake through massive windows. Mid April falls in the thick of spring and is a magical time to be being surrounded by natural beauty and capture the landscape in photos.
Besides the lodge, the park includes cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. It’s near Cadiz and the Land Between the Lakes at 3500 State Park Road just off I-24. Exit at Highway 68 and go west toward Cadiz and the park.
For more information contact Nick Edmonds at nick.edmonds@ky.gov or call the lodge at call 1-800-325-1708.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park is geared up and ready for Spring. After Old Man Winter’s especially cantankerous mood, aren’t we all?!
Lake Barkely SRP is throwing out the welcome mat to welcome spring’s arrival in southwestern Kentucky with a celebration of nature and nurture for every member of the family on March 19-21.
This celebration is an ideal time for a weekend getaway to enjoy and celebrate one of the most beautiful spectacles in the world: Springtime in Kentucky.
The celebration begins Friday evening (March 19, 2010) at 6:30 with the “owl prowl.” A guide will lead you to prime owl habitats, allowing participants to listen and learn more about these beautiful birds. The hike is $1 per person but children 5 years and younger prowl free.
Saturday marks the official beginning of a full day of spring. Lake Barkley SRP will continue the spring celebration with an 8 a.m. lap swim at the park’s fitness center. At 9 a.m. the park naturalist will lead a leisurely hike in search of the first signs of spring along the ground, in the trees and other surroundings.
The archery range is open from 1 – 2:30 p.m. with an instructor available for beginners.
Learn tips on attracting birds to your own backyard beginning at 3 p.m. and you’ll even learn how to construct your own recycled hummingbird feeder. Birdwatching and recycling are two things near and dear to my own heart – so kudos to Lake Barkley State Resort Park for this activity.
On Sunday morning, you can join the naturalist for a migratory bird hike.
More About Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Lake Barkley State Resort Park is the largest state resort park in Kentucky and visitors will find that there is something for everyone to do and enjoy. The park features a lodge, cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant (an exceptional restaurant – click the link for my own review), a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. See? Everything you could hope for!
The park is located at 3500 State Park Road in Cadiz. From I-24, take the Highway 68 exit west toward Cadiz.
For more information about the Spring weekend celebration of other amenities at the park, contact Mary at mary.schmidt@ky.gov or Nick at nick.edmonds@ky.gov.
You can call the lodge at call 1-800-325-1708.
The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges — more than any other state! For more information on Kentucky parks, visit http://www.parks.ky.gov/
Michael and I went to the beautiful Lake Barkley Lodge last night for the Lake Barkley State Resort Park Presents Comedy Dinner Theater featuring Marty Pollio. The food was delicious and the laughs were constant.
Marty Pollio is a tremendously talented Louisville comedian. You can read more about him in my previous post and learn even more by visiting his website. In fact, I insist that you visit Marty Pollio’s website. Not only is he a total riot – he apparently shares one of my own great passions: cooking! He has tons of delicious-sounding recipes on his website. I’ve actually been saving a lot of them this morning to print out and try. Italian food… come on, it doesn’t get any better.
I am so grateful to the Lake Barkley State Resort Park for putting together this Dinner and a Show evening. What a brainstorm! I’d love to see more of Kentucky’s wonderful state parks doing the same. And if they bring in Marty Pollio, I’ll want a ticket to each and every show.
As you know, I’m a huge fan of the Variety! Music, Memories, and More shows in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. On the way home last night, I thought how amazing it would be if they’d bring Marty to the Badgett Playhouse. I nearly laughed out loud at the thought of him interacting with Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling. I’d give up 6 months of Starbucks to see the three of them on stage together. If you know me, you know that’s as good as offering up your first born.
Marty Pollio has “it” – that certain something that a comedian either has or doesn’t have…. they own it or fake it. He’s like a cleaner, Italian, juggling Dane Cook. Let’s see Mr. Cook juggle 4 balls at once!
As luck would have it, my husband was one of the faces in the crowd that Marty interacted with. My husband, who is as big a ham and character as anyone, played along beautifully. As a mother who loves her daughters more than her next breath, I do have to clear something up. When he asked Michael how many children he had and if he was proud of the way they turned out- he shook his head NO! For anyone there, know that he was (of course) playing around.
He also said he wasn’t there for their births – he was there (and green) for all three. Liar.
Anyway, aside from getting my husband into all kinds of trouble, Marty was just spectacular. He had everyone laughing hysterically and his juggling and miming were simply unreal. How does anyone juggle like that? I’d struggle with 1 ball, let alone 4.
If you are reading this article and are looking for a hilarious clean comedian for an event or show – here’s your guy. Just promise me one thing: Let me know when he’ll be there because I’ll be headed that way. I might even let “you know who” come along. And sit in the back.
A few links you’ll love:
How to Juggle and Other Cheap Tricks (Marty’s How To)
Marty Pollio’s Italian Recipes
Act now for a chance to see Lake Barkley State Resort Park Presents Comedy Dinner Theater Saturday night, February 27. Over 100 tickets have been sold already, so time is of the essence.
Beautiful Lake Barkley State Resort Park will host a dinner theater Saturday night that’ll provide many laughs, great food, and fun memories. The laughs will be courtesy of television and film star Marty Pollio. The comedian has performed on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno and has appeared on Jerry Lewis Telethons. He has also performed part of his act in the movie “Punchline” with Tom Hanks and Sally Field. Marty had a recurring role on “Night Court” and guest starred on “Empty Nest” and “Blossom”.
The dinner and show is $25 a person for advance reservation until Feb 24. The ticket price will be $30 a person after that date. There is limited seating for this dinner and show, so call now!
Call for more information: 1-800-325-1708
As you know, we absolutely love Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Grand Rivers, Aurora, the Willow Pond restaurants and all things that fall under the heading Land Between the Lakes. (Especially when they fall under the heading and answer to the name catfish.)
A while back, I wrote a review about the Aurora Landing Restaurant at Kenlake Lodge. Everything about it was beyond spectacular and I couldn’t wait to share the experience with our readers.
Not long ago, we found ourselves in the area again. When it came time to eat, we nearly drove to Aurora Landing without even discussing it. However, we hadn’t eaten in the beautiful restaurant in the Lake Barkley Lodge – very appropriately named Windows on the Water Restaurant - in a while and we were anxious to visit Lake Barkley Lodge. Besides, variety is the spice of life, right? The windows in this gorgeous restaurant afford you a breathtaking view of Lake Barkley with an endless parade of sailboats and beautiful birds. The restaurant is a real beauty, itself. Windows on the Water is always decorated spectacularly, celebrating whatever season or holiday the calendar shows.
Naturally, if the food or service didn’t back up the beautiful surroundings, this would be a short review… something to the tune of, “Go, take a look around, then go eat somewhere else.” Fortunately, I won’t have to say anything like that because the food was out of this world and the server couldn’t have treated us any better if we were her family.
I actually ventured away from my beloved catfish to try something new: a Kentucky Hot Brown. Here’s how it was described in the menu: Toast points with baked country ham, roasted turkey, smothered in cheese sauce, topped with tomato, bacon and cheddar cheese. Baked until steaming hot…
Here’s how I personally describe this Kentucky Hot Brown: Good, gracious God in Heaven, when’s the soonest I can have a Kentucky Hot Brown from the Windows on the Water Restaurant again?!?! My dear reader friend, I am at a loss for words here. This was one of the most remarkable dishes I’ve ever enjoyed – it was spectacular. When I took my first bite, I was stupified. My husband saw the stupification and simply (without saying a word) visited my plate with his fork…. His and Her stupification!
I’d tell you what Michael ordered, but I can’t for the life of me recall. All I remember is the delicious bread, the perfect sweet tea, the outstanding onion rings and the Kentucky Hot Brown that I’ve been fantasizing about since.
The next time you’re around the Land Between the Lakes, promise me you’ll eat at the Windows on the Water Restaurant. Oh, scratch that… don’t wait for the next time you’re in the area – just go! Kentucky State Parks.gov has all the information you’ll need about the Lake Barkley Lodge and I have all the information you’ll need about the Windows on the Water Restaurant… 20 stupifying stars out of 10.
