Walk #24: Charles D. McLaughlin's Boring Old House

Address: 507 South 38th Street

Information: Charles D. McLaughlin House

Lunch: Bento Box #3

Destination Review: Sorry, Charlie, your house is really dull.

The Walk: This was in the Gold Coast neighborhood, so there were some interesting things to see as I walked around the block, including a big rich person’s house with separate servant’s quarters…

…pretty planters on every corner…

…more cool Gold Coast bricks…

…some nice brick and stone work…

…and another view of the Blackstone Hotel, over some construction. I’ve visited so many landmarks now that I’m starting to notice landmarks I’ve already visited during my walks.

The Lunch: The chef’s salad was OK, with plenty of ranch. I love roasted baby potatoes. Kiwi and cantaloupe taste good together. And I again enjoyed my version of trail mix, which is a nut and seed mix I get at Dollar Tree mixed with peanut butter M & Ms.

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Cantaloupe: An Athena melon was 48¢ lb. at Fareway, $2.98 total.

Cucumber: 49¢ at Aldi minus a 25¢ Allrecipes rebate = 24¢

Deli Ham: Carl Buddig Original Lunchmeats were 68¢ at Walmart. I bought 5 and used a $1 off 5 coupon from the 5-7-17 SmartSource insert. I also got a $1 Ibotta rebate for buying 4. Total was $1.40 for 5, or 28¢ per pack.

Eggs: A dozen Hy-Vee Grade A Large Eggs were on sale for 39¢ at Hy-Vee.

Kiwi: On sale for 33¢ at Hy-Vee.

Lettuce: A Hy-Vee Garden Salad was $1.49 at Hy-Vee. I used a 50¢ off 1 store coupon I got in the mail to make it 99¢.

Peanuts: I got a single pack of Munchies Peanuts for 50¢ at CVS.

Red Potatoes: I got 4 for 50¢ at Hy-Vee.

Ranch Dressing: Bolthouse Farms Ranch Dressing was on sale for $2.49 at Baker’s. I used a $1.50 off 1 Baker’s digital coupon, got a $1 rebate from Allrecipes, another $1 rebate from Checkout 51, and yet another $1 rebate from MobiSave, resulting in it being better than free.

Art Project: Embellished Frame

Walk #23: Got Some Interesting Neighborhood Photos Near the Center School

Destination Review: This is an old public school that is now an apartment building. It has a great front door and some cool windows.

The Walk: I went around the block and encountered some interesting fences…

…a great tree swing…

…a brick-paved street…

…and a beautiful fountain in someone’s front yard.

The Lunch: I ate in my car again, because it was hot. Rice and beans were kind of bland. The guacamole made the celery lots better. I couldn’t find star fruit, so I substituted kiwi, which was kind of sour. The cantaloupe was OK. And I substituted fruit cubes for the dried fruit, and they were quite good.

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Avocados: One of ‘em was 88¢ at Fresh Thyme. I got a $1 Allrecipes rebate for it, plus a $1 Mobisave rebate, making it better than free. The other was 99¢ at Target, minus a 10% off Target Cartwheel offer and the 5% Red Card discount. I got another $1 Allrecipes rebate for it, again making it better than free.

Black Beans: Mrs. Grimes Black Beans were on sale for 77¢ at Fareway. I bought 2 cans for $1.54 and used a $1 off 2 Invisipon coupon, making them 54¢, or 27¢ each.

Cantaloupe: An Athena Melon was on sale for 48¢ lb. at Fareway, $2.98 total.

Celery: On sale for 88¢ at Fareway.

Diced Green Chiles: Ortega Diced Green Chiles are 98¢ at Walmart. I bought 2 for $196 and used a $1 off 2 coupon from ortega.com, making them 96¢, or 48¢ each.

Fruit Cubes: A single pack of Gold Emblem Fruit Cubes was 99¢ at CVS.

Kiwi: On sale for 33¢ at Hy-Vee.

Limes: 25¢ at Aldi

Red Onion: On sale for 39¢ at Fareway. Subtract a 30¢ Allrecipes rebate and it was 9¢.

Sweet Corn: 33¢ an ear at Walmart. Subtract a 25¢ Ibotta rebate and it was 8¢.

Vegetable Broth: A can of Kroger Vegetable Broth was 69¢ at Baker's.

Art Project: Embellished Frame

Walk #22 1/2: I Nearly Get Squashed by Godzilla at the Omaha Pagoda!

Address: 3941 Ashwood Drive

Information: Omaha Pagoda

Lunch: Ice Cream & Bacon Bento

Destination Review: You probably are familiar with the big kerfuffle that happened about this a few years ago. A team of giant monsters wanted to destroy it, but the Omaha Landmark Heritage Commission intervened, and the legal battle was intense. So thanks to the OLHC, this is still standing, though it's a little hard to find.

I got a good picture of it from across the street, near the Piercing Pagoda.

I have to say there were some really interesting vehicles in the parking lot.

Inside, I had to use the restroom, and I was impressed with their facilities.

After emerging from the bathroom, I was greeted by a friendly robot guide, who offered to take me straight to the top.

The Walk: Just like in Hummel Park, I walked all the way to the top of this thing, even though the stairs were forbidding.

At the top, I got a good view of Union Station and the Bekins Van & Storage Sign.

Back at home, I saw on the news about Godzilla destroying the pagoda. Darn! I miss all the good stuff. I missed seeing the Wienermobile, too!

The Lunch

Mmmmm! Ice cream!

Lunch Ingredient Deals

Bacon: 50 lbs. was only $23.98 at Costco! What a steal!

Asparagus: Got it for free by stealing it from my neighbor's garden.

Velveeta-Wrapped Bacon: OK, I admit it; Kraft paid me to review it. See review above.

Red Jawbreaker: Only a penny down at the corner candy store.

Seaweed Snacks OK, $50 plus shipping from Japan Direct is kind of pricy, but I don't skimp when it comes to seaweed snacks.

Cauliflower: I only needed one floret, so I broke one off and managed to talk the Hy-Vee manager into letting me buy it for a quarter. That way, it was FREE after a 25¢ Ibotta rebate.

Weevils: No comment.

Ice Cream: Reed's was having a 50¢ per slice sale, so I saved big, in 1930s dollars at least.

Chocolate Sprinkles: Only a buck at Dollar Tree.