We made a little weekend get-away with another couple to see an art exhibit in Toledo, Ohio.   The Toledo Art Museum is a wonderful facility and they have some wonderful exhibits and I say that even because I am spoiled by the great Detroit Institute of Arts museum.

The night before the exhibit we had dinner at Mancy’s Restaurant.  A restaurant in Toledo with a history it survived a fire, burned down; was rebuilt and continues to be a respected steakhouse.   It is a restaurant that has to be visited at least once, as it has that old school feel about it, that certain charm that steakhouse used to have.  I would describe the décor as very eclectic and it has the feeling of a New Orleans cat-house (not that I have been to one).

There was a bottle of wine that I had to order for my Bride, which I knew would tickle her silly.  It was a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Raymond Burr Vineyards in Sonoma County, California.   I had never heard of the wine, later I found out that this was the first vintage, and I presumed that it must have some integrity otherwise it would have been embarrassment for the actor.  To this day, I can catch my Bride watching reruns of Perry Mason and enjoying the show.  As to the wine, it had more a deep color and was more impressive then I had hoped it would be.  So it was a pleasure and not just a learning episode (as it could have been).

After the exhibit, we had to go to another famed institution of Toledo.  Tony Packo’s made even famous by the character Max Klinger from the television show M*A*S*H.  It reminded me of one of the “Coney Island” eateries in Detroit, of which I still love Lafayette Coney Island (where they have still resisted even offering salads).  Tony Packo’s has a great gimmick where they have wall plastered with autographed hot dog buns from movie stars, presidents, athletes and other assorted celebrities.  There is even a large section devoted to one of Toledo’s favorite sons Jamie Farr and his noted costars of M*A*S*H.