As I mentioned in my previous article after visiting the History Center on 302 E Berry Street, I was looking to have lunch in a unique Fort Wayne place.
For breakfast, I turned to Yelp and I was happy with my choice – the food at Cindy’s Diner was excellent. However, this time I decided to ask the locals what their favorite lunch spot was. Preferably, this unique place would be in downtown Fort Wayne since I was already there, but I didn’t mind a short cab ride if that’s what it took.
So, I conducted my little unscientific study and the clear winner was … there was no clear winner. It was a tie between Junk Ditch Brewing Company and The Hoppy Gnome. I decided to go with the Junk Ditch Brewing Company and I don’t regret it. The address is 1825 West Main in case you want to pay them a visit.
It’s located in the old Korte Paper Company Warehouse. What I like best about that place is their “everything from scratch philosophy”. I mean who wants to eat more processed food.
The first thing I noticed is that there isn’t much seating and the place fills up quickly. I was lucky enough to find a table, but I would imagine that during peak times it’s packed, and reservation is needed.
They brew their own beer so if you are a beer connoisseur you would appreciate it. I am not so I can’t comment on that but the burger I ordered was excellent (and made with locally sourced ingredients).
I also liked the atmosphere – the decoration is cool (rustic) and the vibe is definitely there. As one person said – “If you only have time for one meal in Fort Wayne I recommend you stop by Junk Ditch.”
As soon as I was done I was onto the next destination – the Embassy Theatre. I was determined to walk the calories off. It took me about 35 minutes to get there.
The place was designed by A.M Strauss and looks amazing. In the 90s it was restored to its previous glory and now it hosts different events- from weddings to concerts. One of the upcoming ones is The Music of Led Zeppelin – Fort Wayne Philharmonic, too bad I won’t be able to see it.
Next, I went to the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. The garden has over 1,200 plants of 502 different species. And let’s not forget they also have 72 types of cactus (I have never seen so many cactuses in one place in my life).
They have both indoor and outdoor gardens and one can easily spend a whole day in there. The indoor Showcase Garden has permanent plants as well as exhibits that change with the season. The Tropical Garden has a pond full of goldfish that kids love as well as a waterfall. The Desert Garden was built as a replica of the desert environment of the Southwest and has species that are typical for that region.
The above-mentioned gardens are indoor. One of the outdoor gardens is the Exploration Garden that has a small pond with goldfish. What I liked about it was that there are a few quiet spots where one can be alone with their thoughts.
The Terrace Garden offers seasonal plantings as well as Midwestern trees and has a lovely brick terrace.
The Streetside Garden has a nice bronze statue in it. Flora (as it’s called) symbolizes the bounty of nature.
The last of the outdoor gardens is Beverforden Garden – it has plenty of acid-loving plants like azaleas and rhododendrons.
The admission fee is more than acceptable – $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-17 and free for kids under 2.
I spent the rest of the day in the Botanical Conservatory. I don’t remember the last time I felt so at peace with myself.
However, around 6 pm I started planning for dinner and what to do to experience the nightlife of Fort Wayne. But you can read more about it in my next article about Fort Wayne.
