Kungaloosh my friends of the interwebs.  I am here again with a report from Ft. Worth, Texas, my latest place of exploration.

As it were, Ft. Worth is the 17th largest city in the great US of A.  Located in the northeast section of the HUGE state of Texas, Ft. Worth is a wonderful gateway between the east and west and gives you a small taste of many different cultures from Mexico to the old south, and the wild west to high society without being too much of any one of those things.  Rich in history, Ft. Worth was the center of the early cattle drives and was a stop on the legendary Chisholm Trail, earning it the renowned nickname, “Cowtown”.

While in Ft. Worth, I had many intriguing experiences including the Water Gardens (seen in the film “Logan’s Run”), which is a lovely architectural representation of a natural environment designed by Phillip Johnson (This attraction receives 5 WUCees).  You will see from my photos that I spent many waking hours exploring its wonders, before I returned to my hotel (the Downtown Sheraton) for a quick nap before dinner at the Reata (a Ft. Worthian staple, culinary team led by Juan Rodriguez, Fred Hamilton, Travis Purdin, Ignacio Rodriquez and Melissa Aguilar ) where I dined upon a lovely appetizer of quail and garlic cheese grits, followed by a main course of buffalo steak and finished with a unique jalapeno flan. Rounding out the evening, I viewed the  fireworks show from a local parking garage to celebrate our great nation on the 4th. Of July. Which is Independence Day.

The next day after awaking from my morning nap, I took a trip to the Stockyards which is where it all began.  Full of saloons, longhorns, cowboys, rodeos and other critters of the like, there was plenty to keep me occupied on this blazing hot afternoon.  Make sure to take a camera and a backup camera, and some batteries, because you wont want to miss documenting your travels in this place.  Also, I beg of you, take time to visit some of the older buildings in town.  Somehow, Ft. Worth escaped the garish refurbishment that the 1970′s brought to most towns and much of the original architecture still remains. Along with the historic architecture, you will find wonderful new examples as well such as Bass Hall which you won’t want to miss.  With its towering angels and gilded trumpets, this is truly a modern day architectural treasure (David M. Schwartz, architect).  If you’re feeling adventurous, (like me) carefully stray off the beaten path in this city for it is full of Mexican popsicles, wheat crunchies and Dublin Dr. Pepper (which is the oldest Dr. Pepper bottling plant in the world).  You have to be willing to go where others may not to find these things, but they are worth the effort.  While you are straying, drive through the historic neighborhoods and savor the beautiful homes being refurbished.  Along with the downtown buildings, many of the older homes have been salvaged and restored to their original glory.

In addition, there is a zoo, a train and many art museums in town to finish out your trip. While I enjoy a more historical perspective, I do hear tell of a Six Flags theme park and water park just about 30 minutes from Ft.  Worth.  If you get tired of Ft. Worth (as if you could), there are many surrounding cities that are a day trip away such as the famous home of the Alamo, San Antonio. There’s also a really big city very nearby called Dallas - you may recall it from that early 80s TV show… I can’t remember the name of it, but it was the one where that guy wakes up in the shower and everything was just a dream. That’s kind of how I felt when I woke up from my morning nap at The Sheraton. Smashing pillows they have.

Truly, I enjoyed visiting this great city and whether you are young or not so young there is something here for you to enjoy.  If you choose this area, be aware that the further into the southwest you go, the hotter it becomes, so pack appropriately.  I hope you get a chance to visit this lovely town soon and if you do, tell them Wandering Uncle Clyde sent you!

Until we meet again!

-Wandering Uncle Clyde

Becky Tucker Uncategorized

One of the new generation of Blue Collar Comedy, Juston McKinney is a comedian to whom we can all relate.  In his new release, “A Middle Class Hole”, Juston talks about the ups and downs of the “American Dream”. Collide used Juston’s vivid descriptions of his experiences in modern suburbia to bring his stories to life on the cover of his DVD and CD packages.

Becky Tucker Design Process, Project In Focus

Kungaloosh my friends from the interwebs!  Wandering Uncle Clyde here with a blast from some of my past adventures, this week the spotlight is on Savannah, GA.

Savannah Georgia, USA is a bustling town filled with culture, color and rebirth.  One of the oldest towns in the United States and the oldest in the great state of Georgia, Savannah is full of education and entertainment alike.  If it’s old things you’re interested in Savannah was settled in 1733 and has been home to a myriad strange, illustrious and notorious people.  John Wesley (of the Methodist Church), Juliette Gordon Low (Founder of the Girl Scouts) and Johnny Mercer (Singer) have all called Savannah home.  Along with famous people, Savannah has some of the most ripping buildings to be found, most of which are being restored by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and can be seen on almost every tour including the trolley tour and many of the walking ghost tours around town.  You can also see the area where they filmed parts of one of my favorite movies, “Forrest Gump” (which I will give 5 WUCees*).  Something that is also notable about Savannah, is their “squares”. Every few blocks, they have small little areas like parks that contain fountains, benches or statues of old people.  These make for a quaint afternoon place to rest (or “people watch” if you’re into that sort of thing).

If it’s the supernatural you want, Savannah has plenty of that too.  From old homes to pirate hideouts, stores that sell old things to cemeteries, Savannah has loads of spooky places to put a chill in the air and raise those little hairs of the back of your neck (sometimes I wish my back weren’t so hairy).  My favorite haunted spot is Bonaventure Cemetery.  Whether you are there for the haunts or the history, Bonaventure cemetery is a wondrous location, teeming with live oak trees and Spanish moss, that will not soon be forgotten.  (I give it 5 WUCees for a must see spot.) Savannah has really taken advantage of being featured in the novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” as well, so if you have read the book or seen the movie (I am not a fan –personally it gives me the heebiejeepies– and refuse to give this any WUCees, but I WILL allow you to make your own decision)  then you may recognize many of these places already.

A little further east from Savannah, when you tire of scavenging for purchases on River Street, antique hunting, pub crawling, ghost tour taking, southern food eating, trolley riding, architecture studying and praline savoring, there is a little island called Tybee. Make sure on the way to Tybee you stop off at Fort Pulaski for the Civil War buffs (more information about old things here)  and The Crab Shack (not many old things here) for everyone else.  The Crab Shack is a scrumptious hidden restaurant in between Savannah and Tybee Island.  It is less than mile-long hike (or drive, as the case may be), back into a local village.  They serve some of the best seafood in these parts, but be aware it is their custom to eat large shellfish with only your bare hands.  For the wee ones you can feed the gators and have your picture taken with great statues of piratey things.  Once you reach Tybee, try to stay in one of the island’s bed and breakfasts (I stayed with some kind natives at the Tybee Island Inn).  This gives you plenty of opportunity to talk with other adventurers and locals about what to do and what to avoid in the area.  The island is small and the foot traffic is fairly light on the beaches (although no-see-um traffic is above average), but they are full of tide pools and critters of all types for lots of learning.  The water isn’t very clear (much like all of the east coast) but the beaches are clean, quiet and the people are friendly.  There is also a lighthouse (the Tybee Lighthouse) and museum to occupy your time, although check before you go because they keep curious hours.

All in all, the Savannah area is a pleasant vacation spot full of mystery and intrigue (which as you know is what I look for anywhere I venture).  It may not be as enthralling for the younger members of your clan but it’s not an inappropriate place for them either.  You just have to know in advance that you have to create your own fun, it’s not provided in the form of miniature golf or amusement park rides.

Hope your summer is full of adventure or relaxation, either of which you may find in Savannah!

-Wandering Uncle Clyde

* “WUCees” are Wandering Uncle Clyde’s personal brand of endorsement. Like gold stars and chocolate chip cookies put together, only a little furrier.

Throughout this entry you will find links to my recommendations for favorite old things, shopping, food and fun, but to recap, here is a list of the things in Savannah that get the 5 WUCee seal of approval.

Restaurants:

The Crystal Beer Parlor

The Crab Shack

The Lady and Sons (Paula Deen’s Restaurant)  Be hungry when you go here, and know that the wait could be hours.

Pubs: (All of these have great English food as well)

Molly MacPherson’s

Six Pence Pub

Pub Crawl (There are plenty of these and I haven’t gone on them personally, but I have seen them in action)

Shopping:

RiverStreet

Universe Trading Company

River Street Sweets

Old stuff shopping (I liked the ones on River Street the best, but all of the antique stores are great.  Be prepared, some of them are very expensive: you will know if you have to ring the bell to get in)

Things to do:

Ghost Tours (There are too many of these to count or link)

Bonaventure Cemetery

Trolley Tours

Juliette Gordon Low House

Tybee Light House

Fort Pulaski

Becky Tucker Uncategorized

Kungaloosh people of the internet!  Let me begin by introducing myself.  I am Wandering Uncle Clyde, Uncle of Kevin Tucker and ace travel reporter for Collide.  What are my credentials you may ask?  Since I was 17 young years of age I have been a member of the Adventurers Club. I have travelled the world from Bangladesh to The World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Minnesota in search of mystery and intrigue. While on these journeys, I have kept a log of notes and photos, hoping that one day I would be able to share them with the world.  Kevin has so kindly made me an administrator of this bloggy thingy so that I may share my past and present adventures any time I wish.  I will continue to take time out of my busy schedule to ensure that you all have access to my exciting tales of peril and danger.  And maybe a nice recipe from time to time too.

Until next time,

Kungaloosh!

P.S.  Make sure to follow me on Head Book and Tweety Bird!  You don’t want to miss one second of this!

Becky Tucker Uncategorized

This Alaskan transplant, Christian comedian oozes charisma while bringing biblical messages into modern day with a twist.  The saying “you can’t make that stuff up” directly applies to every story Torry brings to life.  He takes his adventures in wild Alaska, combines them will his own shortcomings and shows us all how to laugh at ourselves and play to our strengths all while giving glory to God.

Collide (with photography by Allen Clark and Styling by Tammy Rhoton) focused on a woodsy, Alaskan charm when bringing Torry’s new brand to life.

Becky Tucker Company News, Design Process, Project In Focus

Recently Collide, in collaboration with illustrator/designer Richard Cook,  was honored to create the packaging for the benefit project “For Nashville For Haiti“.  Produced by Ellen Tift at World Wide Groove Corporation, this album is a compilation of many wonderful Nashville artists and showcases the spirit of community fostered in our great city.  The proceeds from the sale of this album will benefit Glow Ministries to aid in both Nashville and Haiti disaster relief.

Becky Tucker Design Industry Issues, Project In Focus

Just recently to press: Winfield’s Locket

Brand new on the scene and showing off a blend of soul-infused country, sisters Leslie and Brooke Martin, as Winfield’s Locket, just released their debut album which is now available on iTunes.

For this project, they were looking for a combination of gothic flair, vintage country and classic femininity for their identity and packaging.  This is what Collide came up with:

Becky Tucker Company News, Design Process, Project In Focus

Hello fellow time travelers!  It’s time once again to visit Collide’s closet from 1984.  This time (just trying to see how many times I can say time in a paragraph) we have some real gems!  I guess you could say we liked to play with dolls because here we have in mint-ish condition, a papier mâché figure of Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) created by Kevin and a hand painted and sewn (painted by Becky, sewn by her Gammy) Donnie Wahlberg (from New Kids on the Block) stuffed pillow.  It doesn’t get much better than this…. or does it?  Tune in next Tuesday to see!

Becky Tucker Design Process

The 2009 AIGA Nashville Year in Review book is officially here and Collide made several notable appearances:   Photo 4 – Austin Peay “Encyclopeaydia” Viewbook, Photo 5 – Think Tank, The Buzz and The Case Awards Identity, Photo 6 – Photos from The Case Awards (The Case Awards event co-conceived with John Thomas at Blue Tractor)  Year in Review Book Art Direction and Design by Amy Olert and Larry Norton

click on thumbnail to see larger view

Becky Tucker Company News

If you were to take a time machine back to 1984, when you were but a wee lad or lass, walked into your room and opened your closet…  what treasures would crash down on your toes?  Collide has been granted access to the use of a secret experimental prototype of an invention… so secret, that not even we have been able to use it.  Through the secret non-use of this secret invention, we have brought to you Collide’s Retro Closet!  When we didn’t enter our closet in 1984, giant sticker books fell out and this is what we found….

Becky Tucker Defies Categorization, Uncategorized