Quilt Shows

Visit to Paducah before the AQS Show

Paducah gets ready for the AQS Show

On the way home from our spring trip down south to escape the tail end of Wisconsin  winter, Ross and I stayed a few days in the Paducah area at our favorite RV campground – Canal Park in Grand Rivers, KY.

Paducah Convention Center - Site of the annual Paducah Quilt Show & Convention

One day we drove over to the Paducah Convention Center, the site of the AQS Quilt Show and Convention to see what’s new.  We’d heard that the failing Executive Inn hotel, which was attached to the convention center, was torn down. And the rumor turned out to be true.  All that was left was a giant pile of broken concrete and rubble.

New Addition being added to the Convention Center

We could see that where the hotel was attached to the convention center a new addition is being constructed, but I doubt that it will be finished in time for the big Quilt Show the last part of April.  So quilt show goers can expect to use the big “White Dome”  exhibition hall for part of the show’s activities.  Since the rubble from the torn down Executive Inn is actually covering more space than the former building, expect parking space to be even more stressed than usual.

Downtown Paducah in Bloom

While an overcast day, downtown Paducah was looking pretty good with apple and pear blossoms in full bloom.

If you’ve never been to the annual Quilt Show in Paducah here’s some links you can visit: Paducah and the AQS Quilt Show and Scenes from 2010 AQS Quilt Show

While in Grand Rivers we stopped at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement Restaurant.

Patti's Restaurant Grand Rivers, Kentucky

The restaurant is part of larger complex of a little 19th century village with shops, gardens, a mill, a little church, and other attractions. Wait staff in the restaurant are costumed in historically accurate apparel and the interior is filled with antiques from the period, adding to the 19th century atmosphere. As with our previous visit we found the food and the service exceptional. I had their grilled salmon on a bed of rice with a side of steamed vegetables. Grilled salmon is one of my favorites so I have a good amount of experience with grilled salmon. Patti’s is one of the best I’ve ever had. Cooked and served at exactly the right temperature and very moist. Nice detail touches to the main meal were their homemade fresh bread cooked and served in a little earthenware flower pot and serving their ice water in a canning jar with a quarter lemon slice on the rim. It was a cold, rainy Wednesday evening in late March, well before the tourist season in little Grand Rivers, yet Patti’s was almost packed. Evidence of the value and quality of their service that they could draw so many people from many miles away.

On the way to Grand Rivers we stopped at the Murray State University golf course so Ross could play 18 holes. While the grass had yet to green out the fairways and greens were in good shape for golfing. The Miller-Murray University course is quite scenic and well-maintained and they do offer a senior rate so it is a good value for us. Ross will probably stop there again when I am back in Paducah in late April for the 2011 AQS Show.

I’ll report back later from the show. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Jo – joquilt@gmail.com

3 thoughts on “Visit to Paducah before the AQS Show

  • Pingback: Grand Rivers Quilt Show & Spring Festival | Traveling Quilter

  • Love your blog. May I add, the Executive Inn rubble will all be gone by Quilt Show 🙂 The construction at the Convention Center is a new, second entrance. Yeah! And, the “big white dome” will be used, once again, for additional AQS vendor space. I found great vendors there last year.

    Please stop by the Paducah Information Booth at the Quilt Show when you’re in town. I would love to meet you in person. Does Ross have a golf game arranged in Paducah yet??

    Safe travels.
    Mary Hammond
    Paducah Visitors Bureau

    • Thanks Mary,

      Glad to hear the rubble will be gone by the time of the show. I’ll plan to stop by to say hello when I am in town.

      See you in a few weeks.

      Jo

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